Intruder clad in PPE tackled by widow, 71, after demanding cash

Brave: Kaye Parish used self-defence slaps to fight off an intruder
NIGEL HOWARD ©
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A pensioner sent an intruder disguised in surgical protective clothing packing with two “brain-wobbling” slaps to the head she had learned from her self-defence class.

The conman, clad head-to-toe in PPE, tricked his way into the home of 71-year-old Kaye Parish posing as a college volunteer handing out bottles of hand sanitiser to the elderly.

Once through the front door of the bungalow in Dagenham he pushed her up against a wall and demanded cash.

Mrs Parish, who has rheumatoid arthritis, said her 5ft 9in assailant was carrying fake ID.

“He told me he had sanitiser and handed me two bottles,” she said. “I thought ‘how nice, what a lovely thing to do’.

“He grabbed me and pushed me so hard against the wall. He was shouting ‘give me your money’.

"Then I remembered my self-defence classes and this slap our teacher taught us where it wobbles the brain and makes the person disoriented.

"So I did that and he looked shocked but screamed about money again. I just hit him again and he ran off.”

Mrs Parish, who has lived alone since her husband Charlie’s death six years ago, had been regularly attending her council’s self-defence classes before the lockdown.

“I’m so grateful for those classes and my teacher, Jason. He made us practice that head slap move over and over again so it would become second nature. It saved me.”

Mrs Parish's teacher Jason Duck is a member of the council's Healthy Lifestyle Team, which helps keep the residents of Barking and Dagenham fit.

He said: “With self-defence it’s all about keeping the techniques simple so they can be used even under extreme stress and pressure but still be effective.

"It’s great to hear that Kaye was able to save herself due to the training that she was given and I was glad to be of some help.”

Councillor Sade Bright, cabinet member for employment, skills and aspiration, said: “It is really important that we all keep active especially during the lockdown and the council’s healthy lifestyle service has a number of programmes on offer.

“It’s great to hear that Kay was able to protect herself due to the training that she was given and I’m very proud of her.”

Police are investigating.

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