Teen have-a-go hero tackles mugger and recovers OAP victim's handbag

THIS is the teenage have-a-go-hero who tackled a mugger to the ground after seeing him snatch an elderly woman's handbag.

Daniel Hardy chased and grabbed the thief after witnessing the mugging as he was about to get on a bus.

The 18-year-old struggled with the man but managed to prise the stolen handbag off him.

Mr Hardy said: "It was an instinct thing more than anything.

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"I would have thought anyone else would do the same thing, but to be honest a lot of people have said to me since they wouldn't want to do it nowadays."

Mr Hardy was getting on the Trent Barton indigo bus in Derby Road, Long Eaton, to head home from work when the mugging unfolded at 5.10pm on January 11.

The driver called out after seeing the mugger snatch the 79-year-old victim's bag and run off down the road.

Mr Hardy said: "I just ran straight off the bus and round the corner after him.

"I caught up with him round the corner and knocked him on to the floor.

"He went down on to the pavement. I'd kind of just run into him.

"I'm 18 and people have been saying how a lot of young people would not have done what I did.

"I think that's a stereotype and perhaps I've proved them wrong."

Mr Hardy, who is 6ft 5in and weighs about 15 stone, wrestled on the ground with the mugger in Trent Street, snatching back the woman's bag.

A man in a red coat, whom police have still not traced, followed him as he ran after the mugger and stayed with the thief as Mr Hardy called the police and walked back to the bus stop to give back the bag to the woman.

He said: "The lady was really thankful. People were saying 'thank you so much' and there were a couple of other women with her who said I was a hero."

Mr Hardy, who works in Long Eaton and lives in Beeston, said he walked back to where the robber was sitting with the man in the red coat – but both had gone.

It is thought the robber may have got away, leading the man to chase after him.

Mr Hardy, who goes to the gym six times a week, works at Home Bargains in Long Eaton but wants to become a personal trainer.

He said: "I would definitely do it again.

"People have been talking about it – I know my mum told a few shopkeepers and I've had a few random people come up to me and say I should be proud of what I did."

Derbyshire Police are still hunting the robber, who was white, about 5ft 10in and slim.

He had short, greying hair and wore a dark jacket, dark blue jeans and a baseball cap.

Detective Constable Denise Sandall said: "This is a serious crime and we are grateful to Mr Hardy and the other passers-by who put themselves at risk by detaining the suspect and helping the elderly victim.

"However, the robber escaped and we need the public's help to identify him."

Anyone who witnessed the robbery, or has any information, should call 101.