Grandad John Fletcher chases off armed robbers from bookmakers in Wrexham

Oct 1 2009 by Kelly Barker, Wrexham Chronicle

Grandad John Fletcher chases off armed robbers from bookmakers in Wrexham

A GRANDAD wrestled a sledgehammer from masked robbers who demanded cash as he closed up his bookmakers.

John Fletcher, 63, said he had little time to think when he found himself chasing two thugs from his family-run business, Fletcher’s Bookmakers, in Wrexham.

He was locking up the Holt Road premises at around 9.45pm on Friday, when he was forced back into his office and threatened by men wielding a sledgehammer.

But the fearless father-of-two said he wasn’t about to be cheated and managed to snatch the weapon before turning it on the men, who fled empty-handed.

“I was locking up the shop when I was attacked by two lads,” he said.

“They jumped on me and pushed me back into my office swearing and shouting at me to give them the money or have some of this – that’s when I saw that one of them was holding a sledgehammer.

“I told them the money was already locked in the safe and I couldn’t get it out.

“I was pinned up against the wall and didn’t have many options so I wrestled the sledgehammer off them.

“When I got hold of it, I turned it on them and chased them out of my office before running back in and dialling 999.”

Police are hunting the two raiders, described as being in their late teens and wearing black with their faces covered by black balaclavas.

They ran off in the direction of Brooklands Garage.

Anyone with information, or who may have seen two young men acting suspiciously in the area, should call Wrexham CID on 101 if in Wales, 0845 6071001 (Welsh line), 0845 6071002 (English line), Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or text 66767.