Colin1
Senior Master Sergeant
A SECOND World War veteran who grappled with a gunman during an armed robbery has told how onlookers ignored his pleas for help.
Sidney Bannister, aged 83, grabbed 30-year old Henry Rockson in a headlock as the robber ran from a bookmaker's shop. During the struggle Mr Bannister appealed to the nine other customers, mostly young men, to help him but they would not step in.
Rockson escaped after beating the pensioner twice over the head with the butt of his gun. He later carried out armed raids in other parts of the country.
"Maybe it's just a sign of the times that people do not want to get involved these days" said Mr Bannister, who received stitches to his head after the robbery in Oldham. "I am not exactly in my prime but in my day we were brought up to have a go and not be a shrinking violet when we saw something happening that was very wrong.
I did not think about the gun or about being shot. I was more concerned about getting the guy so he would not be allowed to do this again. There were nine other men in the shop and most of them were either half my age or younger.
I just wish one of them had shown some gumption."
Rockson, of Peckham, south-east London, was jailed for 12 years yesterday after admitting 20 offences including the Oldham robbery.
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, awarded Mr Bannister £200 for his 'great public-spiritedness.'
The Daily Telegraph
Saturday January 31 2009
Sidney Bannister, aged 83, grabbed 30-year old Henry Rockson in a headlock as the robber ran from a bookmaker's shop. During the struggle Mr Bannister appealed to the nine other customers, mostly young men, to help him but they would not step in.
Rockson escaped after beating the pensioner twice over the head with the butt of his gun. He later carried out armed raids in other parts of the country.
"Maybe it's just a sign of the times that people do not want to get involved these days" said Mr Bannister, who received stitches to his head after the robbery in Oldham. "I am not exactly in my prime but in my day we were brought up to have a go and not be a shrinking violet when we saw something happening that was very wrong.
I did not think about the gun or about being shot. I was more concerned about getting the guy so he would not be allowed to do this again. There were nine other men in the shop and most of them were either half my age or younger.
I just wish one of them had shown some gumption."
Rockson, of Peckham, south-east London, was jailed for 12 years yesterday after admitting 20 offences including the Oldham robbery.
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, awarded Mr Bannister £200 for his 'great public-spiritedness.'
The Daily Telegraph
Saturday January 31 2009