Men Plead Guilty To Armed Raid In Northampton

15 April 2011, 16:37 | Updated: 15 April 2011, 16:53

Five men have pleaded guilty to being involved in an armed raid, that was broken up when a pensioner started hitting them with her handbag.

71-year-old Ann Timson tackled the men outside Michael Jones Jewellers in Gold Street, Northampton on Monday February 7th. One of them had been holding a sledgehammer.

Mrs Timson's intervention was caught on camera and showed her running up Gold Street, past other shoppers to get to the scene. She is seen to hit one of three men sitting on scooters with her handbag before turning her attention to three other men who were smashing the shop window.

Patrick O'Brien, 18,  from Arlington Square, Islington, Terry Ingles, 22, from Arran Walk, Canonbury, Edward Smith, 28, from Staveley Close, Holloway, Jason Hartles, 25, from Peabody Square, Islington and Michael Sharpe, 39, from Rowstock Gardens, Holloway appeared at Northampton Crown Court today (Friday, 15th April).

They all pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to burgle. The prosecution accepted not guilty pleas to a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Ingles admitted taking a Vespa scooter without authority and driving while disqualified.

O'Brien admitted being carried on the scooter without authority.

All five men have been remanded in custody for sentencing on May 23rd.