VIDEO: A PARISH councillor was dragged along the road behind a moped when he tackled two would-be bike-thieves at Culcheth, Warrington
The 57-year-old would not let go of the machine which was eventually forced to stop and then grappled with one of the culprits until other passersby came to his aid and helped overpower one of the pair.
They then held him until police arrived and arrested him.
Cllr Neil Johnson – a member of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council since May – said: “I didn’t think about being brave or anything. It’s just something I did.
“I certainly didn’t think of it being part of the duties of a parish councillor.”
The incident happened at about 1.30pm yesterday, outside The Men’s Room barbershop in Culcheth.
The two alleged offenders had apparently arrived on their own moped and the second youth made off on this machine while the struggle was taking place.
Cllr Johnson said: “I saw these two lads standing near a moped and thought nothing of it at first. Then I heard someone shout: “Hey get off my bike” and realised what was happening.
“I dashed over and grabbed the lad on the moped. But he accelerated away and I was dragged along the road. He was forced to stop because there was a car in front of him.
“But there was no way I was letting go.
“They had their own moped and the other lad made off on that, leaving his mate behind. Some other residents helped me control the lad who was still struggling. But he was only a teenager I think – he didn’t stand a chance.”
Cllr Johnson said he had no previous experience of unarmed combat but liked to keep himself fit with jogging and weight-training. He suffered a grazed ankle and some bruises in the incident.
“I’ve never done anything like this before, although I did help a lady who fell in the street the other day.”
A police spokesperson said: “Police were called to reports of an attempted theft on Common Lane, Culcheth.
“Officers attended the scene and found that members of the public had detained a man in relation to the attempted theft of a scooter.
“The 18-year-old, from Bolton, was subsequently arrested by officers on suspicion of attempted theft. He has since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.”
