A FEMALE rugby player has told how she saved a mum and toddler by tackling a notorious robber to the ground.
Winger Jordyn Mavromatis, 22, was at a friend's house when she spotted a thug snatch a handbag from a woman in the street.
She leaped into action grabbing both the robber’s legs, knocking him to the ground. He then fled but was caught later by cops.
The wanted crook – slowed by Jordyn – was later jailed for four robberies, possessing offensive weapons, burglary, wounding with intent and car theft.
Jordyn said: “I had just walked into my friend’s house when I heard screaming from outside.
“I looked out the window and saw a man and woman fighting with two little kids around them.
“I ran outside to try and break it up but I saw blood on her face.
“The children were screaming that he was a robber.
“I asked the woman if she knew the man and she said no – he looked mad.
“I knew I had to stop him but the only way I knew how to stop someone so big was to rugby tackle them.
“I bent down and charged at him and I pushed him and sent him flying across the road.
“He was massive and I just thought ‘go low, move your hands to the side and keep your fists closed’ so I just ran at him.
“It was just like rugby, you get hurt so much but you don’t feel it until afterwards because you’ve got to get that person down or you’ve got to get the ball.
“The other neighbours came out to see what the commotion was about.
“Nobody had called the police yet, so I knocked on the closet door and got them to phone the police.
“I saw him trying to scramble up to his feet so I sprinted towards the car to get the keys. But he had already caught up and he was trying to get into the car. I already had one leg in but he pulled me back and he got in and managed to escape. It all happened pretty fast.
“After everything was over – I spent 10 to 20 minutes checking to see if the woman and the children were ok.”
She added: “It’s weird really I don’t consider myself a hero. I know it was a dangerous situation because who knows he could’ve had a knife.
“I'm just so glad my rugby training kicked in. I just saw him as a target to get down and did what I had to do." Earlier this month, Jordyn, of Wellinghborough, Northants., was presented with a High Sheriff Award and £750 for her actions.
MOST READ IN UK NEWS
'ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY' 
Boy, 5, found dead inside home as woman, 49, held on suspicion of murder
Armed cops in standoff with man in home as residents EVACUATED from homes
'Sadistic' girl, 16, 'laughed as she tortured a doctor to death in park'
We've been living in a TENT for 8 months as council won't find us a house
Judge Michael Fowler, who jailed the robber, said at the presentation: “As a result of her actions the horrifying experience of the victim and her children was brought to an early end."
Jordyn leapt into action as she saw Daniel O’Boyle wrestling with the woman in Wellingborough, Northants., on August 17 last year.
In February O’Boyle, 41, was jailed for 16 years for a string of robberies and an earlier incident of grievous bodily harm, while getaway driver Elaine Garcia, 43, was jailed for 22 months.
Source: Read Full Article
