Grandfather tackles car thief

Thief tried to steal the Vauxhall Vectra

A pensioner fought off a thief after he was trapped in the back of a stolen car.

William Stynes, 77, was sitting in his daughter's Vauxhall Vectra when the man got into the car and drove off.

The retired gardener grabbed hold of the man before ripping off the thief's T-shirt and tugging at his hair.

After a 500-yard journey, the man fled from the car without his shirt and is now being hunted by police in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

I thought to myself: 'He's not going to get away with it'

Pensioner William Stynes

Mr Stynes said: "I was so angry when the man got into the car and drove off.

"I thought to myself: 'He's not going to get away with it'."

Mr Stynes was helping his daughter Kathryn Gill deliver parcels round the town.

He was sorting out packages in the back of the car while Mrs Gill made a delivery to a shop.

She had switched off the engine but had left the keys in the ignition when the thief struck.

Mr Stynes, an amateur rugby player in his youth, said: "When I felt the car move off I just assumed it was Kathryn.

I ran into a shop shouting: 'Help someone has stolen my dad'

Kathryn Gill, daughter

"I couldn't believe it when I looked up and saw this man in the driving seat.

"I pulled at his hair and ripped at his shirt.

"He just seemed to panic and stopped the car before he ran off shouting 'I'm going'.

"My daughter was a bit upset about it. She was more concerned about me than the car."

Mrs Gill, 39, said: "Dad deserves a medal for what he did.

'Thief surprised'

"When I saw what had happened I ran into a shop shouting: 'Help someone has stolen my dad.'

"The thief certainly got the surprise of his life when he realised someone was in the back seat.

"Dad may have arthritis in his hands but he can still stand up for himself."

Sergeant Bob Filby of West Yorkshire Police, confirmed police are looking for the would-be car thief.