Widow, 80, Sees off Burglars with Ceremonial Sword

Police today praised the bravery of an 80-year-old widow who used a ceremonial sword which she kept on display in her home to fight off two burglars.

The raiders, both aged in their late teens, were forced to flee empty-handed after Jean Freke, who suffers from angina, wrestled with one of them before threatening the other with the sword which she grabbed off the wall.

Mrs Freke suffered bruising to her arm in the attack but was otherwise uninjured, according to police.

She was today in Poole Hospital after the burglary at her home in Dunyeats Road, Broadstone, Poole, on Sunday, for monitoring of her angina condition.

The two raiders, described as white, aged 18 to 20, 6ft tall and wearing dark clothing, broke into Mrs Freke’s home before confronting the widow in her drawing room, according to police.

After she was pushed to the ground, Mrs Freke, wrestled with one of the men and then threatened the other with the ceremonial sword.

After being confronted by the widow, the two burglars fled empty-handed, according to police.

The sword was a pre-First World War army officer’s dress sword belonging to Mrs Freke’s late husband’s father.

Detective Inspector Garry Smith said: “The attack on Mrs Freke was despicable and cowardly with a vulnerable widow being targeted in her own home.”


http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2224746/

[larsen_huw]

Well done to her.

What's the betting that had this been a 30 year old man rather than a 80 year old woman, police would be interviewing him now with a view to prosecuting him for threatening them with a sword!

[Chrono]

Originally posted by larsen_huw
What's the betting that had this been a 30 year old man rather than a 80 year old woman, police would be interviewing him now with a view to prosecuting him for threatening them with a sword!

I bet you couldn't be more right.

Jon