A KNUTSFORD man took down a thief outside Aldi after she stole a purse from an elderly woman in the car park.

39-year-old Nadia Borcoi of Westbourne Close, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail following the incident on Monday, September 19 in which she attempted to steal the purse from the woman after asking her if she had any change.

Rick Lea, 34, from Town Lane in Mobberley was stood outside the supermarket on Monday morning when he heard and elderly woman shouting for help.

“The old woman was shouting ‘help, help, I’m being mugged’,” said Rick. “The woman ran and a chap ran after her. I ran in the opposite direction through the other way to the car park.”

Rick told the Guardian that his accomplice in taking down the mugger managed to recover the purse and return it to the victim.

He was reportedly in the middle of helping his disabled dad, and once he had helped to bring the culprit down, returned back to his car without leaving any details.

Rick added: “I bundled the woman to the floor and tied her hands behind her back and sat on her. She was quite verbally aggressive towards me. She didn’t speak much English.

“She was trying to accuse the elderly lady saying that she had found the wallet in the toilet. It was quite entertaining really.”

Borcoi was charged the same day with theft from a person, and pleaded guilty at South and East Cheshire Magistrate’s Court the following day where she received her jail sentence.

“The police came and took her away,” said Rick. “After all of this had happened I had to carry on doing my shopping any way.

“I was thanked by Aldi. The victim was quite shaken. It wasn’t a very nice experience. She did calm down later and came over. She was thankful.”