Fearless pensioner punches burglar and sends him packing
A FEARLESS pensioner has told how she punched a burglar she found in her home – and sent him packing.
Joan Parmenter, 79, discovered Luke Clay with his brother, Lee Clay, in her front room at 11pm on Friday, February 18.
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Fearless: Joan Parmenter, 79, was praised by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court and awarded £250 from public funds.
Luke hit her right temple and she responded with an "almighty punch" to his jaw.
He landed face down on her couch amongst her collection of toy animals from her travels around the world, she said.
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The Clays then fled from her home, but ran into the path of a car, which had to make an emergency stop.
Miss Parmenter ran out of her house after the burglars and shouted "stop him!"
Sophie Buckthorpe, who had been in the car, called police.
Both men were later arrested and admitted they were the burglars.
Yesterday, Miss Parmenter and Ms Buckthorpe were commended by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court for their actions.
They were awarded £250 each from public funds.
The Clays each received eight months in prison after admitting the burglary in Vernon Road, Basford.
Luke, 21, of Austrey Avenue, Beeston, received a further four months, to be served consecutively, for common assault for hitting her.
Jim Metcalf, prosecuting, told the court how the pair broke in as Miss Parmenter watched television in her living room at the back of the house.
She heard two loud bangs coming from the front of the house and went to investigate.
When she walked in to her front room and switched on the light, the Clays were both standing there.
"They were all in black, with woolly hats and scarves over their faces," she said.
"I just went for them to stop them. It was impulse.
"I'd do it again. I'm not frightened of anybody."
Miss Parmenter, who grew up in the same house, has never married or had children.
She worked as a secretary for textile manufacturers Viyella in Castle Boulevard, Nottingham city centre, and moved with the company to Somercotes, Derbyshire.
She took early retirement when she was 53 years old and headed off around the world.
When she returned, she settled in the house where she has many happy memories.
She was particularly upset the burglars stole a carriage clock, bought for her by her mum on the first anniversary of her father's death, which she found smashed in the street.
Lee Clay rang police after the break-in and handed himself in. He told arresting officers he wanted to admit the offence.
When interviewed by police, 25-year-old Luke Clay, also of Austrey Avenue, admitted the offence.
He said they had been drunk and wanted money for food.
Lee Clay also said he owed £1,000 to a drug dealer and that the intention was to buy further drink and drugs.
Comments
by Imogen2789
Thursday, December 13 2012, 6:38PM
“You scumbag.. Imagine if it was ur gran that got robbed!? Personally i wud kill them if they put one finger on my gran! They shud not have been in her house, they had no right!! Maybe if it happened to u then u wud understand! Stupid girl. Grow up.”
by neil, hucknall
Friday, March 25 2011, 3:22AM
“In my opinion he should have kept drinking until he fell over & went to sleep..
Thus avoiding the irresistable urge to burgle someone elses home with his trusty accomplice(brother)..
He,s lucky it was a lady & he only got punched.. It could have been a nasty man &/or big dog protecting the home.. Then he might not have been well enough to attend court..”
by Tuppence, Worth
Thursday, March 24 2011, 10:02AM
“Jason is weird - What's sick about protecting home and family (or did you not understand?)”
by Darren, Nott'm
Thursday, March 24 2011, 1:56AM
“@ girl Basford, she wants locking up for walloping the lad.
Get a grip you daft mare, this lady was doing what anyone in their right mind would do when defending there home against 2 drunken scumbags, they want to think themselves lucky he only got a smack in the chops, others, would have beaten the pair of scumbags black and blue.”
by Tuppence, Worth
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 9:31PM
“Jason - well said! I really hope that most of the comments against Joan are ironic or taking the mike but somehow I doubt it. If some of the comments are to be believed we should welcome drunk strangers into our homes, let them threaten and hit us and then take what they want! Not in my house and not with children to protect so I would do exactly the same as Joan - good for her!”
by girl, basford
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 8:53PM
“when your wrong your wrong and she wants locking up for walloping the lad.”
by jason, nottingham
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 8:50PM
“as someone who has seen the inside of crown court for standing up to burglars i find the comments against this old lady unbelievable. imagine encountering strangers plundering your home and the fear of what they may do to intimidate and silence you. she reacted to protect herself and her possesions and had she been charged with any offence the courts would have done everything they could to minimise the sentence and quite right too!!
we live in an age where vulnerable old people are not respected and cared for, but rather are seen as easy targets. they got a suprise when they picked this easy target,”
by hendo, nottso
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 8:18PM
“seems to me ms parmenter is a bit quick with her fists...they could put her on the door at the oap social club.”
by Jeremy Blackstock-Henson, Lincolns Inn, London
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 7:34PM
“Cannot believe the injustice here. These young men are both unemployed and have been dragged through the judicial system too many times to count.They see no future for themselves and were obviously bored with their lives.
The defence of a thuggish, violent woman, who may well be a pensioner is not acceptable. Goodness knows were we would be if we all went around smashing people in the face just because they were drunk and went home to the wrong house.
Lock up Parmenter and release these poor boys now!”
by Random, Notts
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 7:26PM
“ive heard this girl posting on here is the one who told the brothers to go nd get joans pension money”