Woman's 'Crocodile Dundee' threat

People are now calling Annette Lewis 'Alligator Netty'.

A newsagent has been compared to film hero Mick "Crocodile" Dundee after she got rid of a would-be robber by telling him: "My knife's bigger than yours."

Annette Lewis, 46, stood up to the youth when he produced a knife in her Merthyr Tydfil shop and demanded cash.

She then pulled out a bigger knife which she uses to open mail.

In the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee, Mick produces a knife when threatened by a mugger carrying a switchblade and says: "That's not a knife, this is a knife."

Mrs Lewis, who owns A and C Lewis Newsagents, in Pontmorlais, said people were now calling her 'Alligator Netty' and comparing her to Paul Hogan's character.

While he was here I was quite angry, but once he went and I phoned the police the shock set in and I was in tears Annette Lewis

Speaking about the youth's threat, she said: "He came in and asked for some cigarettes and I scanned them.

"Then he said 'hand over the cigarettes and £50 out of the till or you will get this...' and showed me a knife.

"I had a bigger knife under the counter for opening parcels, so I picked it up and told him 'my knife's better than yours'.

"He called me mad and went for the door. Then he said 'come on then'. I went to run after him and he ran away then."

Crocodile Dundee confronted a mugger in the film with a larger knife.

She said: "While he was here I was quite angry, but once he went and I phoned the police the shock set in and I was in tears.

"My husband's been calling me Alligator Netty since it happened and I've been having the mick taken out of me.

"I was lucky really as it could have gone the other way, but I think I shocked him more than he shocked me.

"Let's hope it's put him off and he doesn't do it again."

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said they were appealing for information following the attempted robbery.

She said the suspect was described as white, aged 19 to 20, and about 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall. He was wearing a blue fleece top, jeans and a red baseball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merthyr Tydfil police station on 01685 724272.