Pensioner wants to thank Good Samaritan who thwarted Thanet Road scooter thief

2:50pm Monday 3rd November 2008

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A HAVE-a-go hero was beaten up by eight thugs after he stopped them stealing an 81-year-old pensioner’s scooter.

The mystery man challenged the thief who was pushing the 50cc moped along Thanet Road in York. But he was then attacked by the thief and seven of his associates who punched and kicked the Good Samaritan in the face.

They then ran off, but left the scooter behind.

Cecilia Igoe, whose owns the scooter, has now come forward to thank the man for standing up for what was right and to say that she hopes he is okay.

Mrs Igoe, of Thanet Road, said she was on her computer at about 12.30am on October 11 when she heard a noise and thought someone was breaking in to her next door neighbour’s house, so called the police.

Mrs Igoe, who has trouble walking, said: “I heard an almighty bang then I saw this person wheeling my scooter out. I said to the police woman on the phone that they had my scooter.”

She said the police later told her that a man had challenged the thief and had been attacked by him and his friends.

Mrs Igoe said: “I would like to give him something for stopping them.

“That scooter is my lifeline as I’m disabled and can’t walk far. The scooter is my legs really. I really want to thank him very much for what he did.

“I’m really concerned about him, I just hope he is okay.

“I’m 81 years old, but I still ride the scooter and want to carry on riding it. I’ve been offered mobility scooters but I want to keep riding the PC50.”

Mrs Igoe revealed she had been targeted by yobs before.

“I was burgled a couple of years ago,” she said. “A boy broke a window at about 2am in the morning and came into my house.

“He wanted my handbag to get the keys for my scooter.

“He didn’t get it but he stole some cash.”

Mr Igoe said she now has a fire-door on the shed where she keeps her scooter, with five locks on the door and a padlock to chain the scooter to the ground.

“I have to protect my lifeline,” she said.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a man had been attacked by a group of eight people after challenging one of them over where he had got the moped from. He suffered severe bruising and swelling in the attack.

She said the Good Samaritan was treated at the scene by paramedics and the ambulance service confirmed he did not need hospital treatment.

Anyone who knows anything about the theft or the assault should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.

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