Watch: Quick-thinking karate-kicking woman thwarts wannabe robber in Telford shop and chases him out
CCTV footage reveals the moment a "wannabe thief" fled a Telford convenience store empty-handed after his attempts were thwarted by a woman buying chocolates for her nieces.
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In January, Dr Mairi Kerin was awarded a police Chief Superintendent Commendation Award after intervening during an attempted robbery in Telford.
On March 3, 2023, 40-year-old Mairi - who is a black belt in karate - chased a man threatening a member of staff at LOCO Convenience Store in Hadley Park Road.
According to police, the incident was part of a series of robberies that were carried out across Telford that month. Three people were later jailed for a combined total of 18 years for their involvement.
West Mercia Police said it was Mairi's “quick thinking” that led to the “wannabe thief” leaving the store empty-handed and with the staff unharmed.
Wadokai England Karate recently shared CCTV footage of the incident, which shows Mairi grabbing the man's arm as he held out a bag towards a member of staff.
She then issued a quick kick at his legs before he scarpered out of the store with Mairi hot on his heels. The footage then shows Mairi walking calmly back to the counter.
In a first-person account shared with Wadokai England, Mairi explained she was in the store buying chocolates to surprise her nieces.
She said: "It was all over in 15 seconds. I had so many things go through my mind but strangely it was all about the inconvenience of the situation. I even had time to joke with myself about it not being my best day."
After the event - and after being given the chocolates for free by the shopkeeper - she had to pull over her car as the adrenalin had finally kicked in and she had "forgotten how to drive".
She added: "People have asked whether I was scared. No, I was not. I’ve imagined taking the legs of far more people than I will ever need to and have trained with this type of event in mind for over 20 years.
"I have sparred in full-contact sessions with people far heavier than me and have been through the mill many times. As a result, I am confident in my skills and would generally back myself in situations like these against someone of that size. In my opinion this is not stupidity or bravado... it’s a reflection of self-belief."
