Grandmother Gives Armed Robber at Ladbrokes A Run for His Money

Posted on: July 5, 2013, 05:30h. 

Last updated on: July 4, 2013, 11:11h.

Katie Barlowe Read More

A 57-year-old grandmother has proudly earned the nickname of “Wonder Woman” among her colleagues at a UK Ladbrokes bookies outlet, after fending off a knife-wielding assailant attempting to rob the branch recently.

On the Defensive

Margaret Black, the grandma who works as a cleaner at a Ladbrokes bookie’s in Shotts, Lanarkshire, took on the threatening thief with a bin lid as she rushed to defend fellow colleague Sandra Paterson, aged 31, at around 9pm on a Thursday evening.

“It was my worst nightmare come true. I thought he was a normal customer,” said Paterson, who has known Black since she was a child. “I screamed, ran through to the back room and shut the door. Margaret was in the kitchen. She came out one door as I came in the other.”

The crime-fighting grandmother explained that she was in the back cleaning when she heard Paterson arguing with the robber, saying “You’re not getting the money.” She then sneaked out of the back door and crept up behind the unwelcome man with the bin lid.

Scared Off Robber

She obviously startled the wrongdoer, as this was then followed by Black chasing the thief out of the premises and even along the street, where he leapt into a getaway car and fled the scene, with probably the most bewildered expression his face has ever achieved.

“If it wasn’t for Margaret, I don’t know what I would have done,” exclaimed Paterson thankfully.

Spoken like a truly modest hero, despite picking up several minor bruises during the incident, Black stated: “I wouldn’t like someone murdered or stabbed while I just stood by. I did what I had to do. That’s just me.”

We would hope that the Ladbrokes’ owners look fondly towards both Black and Paterson for their bravery, as neither one bowed down to the assailant and instead protected the outlet, putting their own safety second. And let’s be honest, the odds were certainly stacked against them.