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14:43 GMT, Thursday, 17 July 2008 15:43 UK

Youth jailed for attacking woman

Admire Masaiti (picture from Hampshire police)

A 67-year-old village postmistress who fought off a hooded robber armed with a metal bar, has seen her attacker jailed for seven years.

Admire Masaiti, 18, originally from Zimbabwe, had admitted at an earlier hearing a charge of assault with intent to rob Linda Scorey.

The attack on 27 June last year was caught on CCTV at the sub post office in Sparsholt, Hampshire.

Masaiti was told on Thursday he would spend a further four years on licence.

At Winchester Crown Court Judge Thomas Longbotham told Masaiti, who lives in London, that the attack provoked "revulsion" in ordinary people and said the impact on Mrs Scorey would last much longer than her physical injuries.

Video footage showed the teenager carrying out the attack on Mrs Scorey, where she was struck over the head with a metal bar.

"There was blood everywhere and I burst into tears afterwards"
Linda Scorey

She refused to hand over the takings and fought back and managed to pull back his hood so the CCTV cameras would capture his face.

Masaiti then escaped despite being chased by two local residents. But he was arrested later.

Mrs Scorey was awarded a bravery certificate in recognition of her actions.

"I'm not sure you think when something like that happens," she said.

"When he hit me with the rock or stone, I couldn't tell you what went through my mind, you just defend yourself and because I was heavier and bigger than him I pushed him away.

"Because he didn't have the rock anymore, he dragged out this piece of piping although I didn't realise that is what it was at the time.

"I remember thinking, 'my God he's got a baseball bat, oh dear,' then I realised it wasn't a baseball bat. I just don't know what I thought. You just act on instinct.

"I couldn't hold on to him until the police came. He went under the counter flap and ran out.

"There was blood everywhere and I burst into tears afterwards."

Previous attack

Det Con Stephen Legg, of Hampshire police, said: "She is a very modest woman and she is to be praised although the police do not always encourage people to confront robbers."

The incident was the second time Mrs Scorey had been assaulted in the village shop after being punched in the face by a gun-wielding attacker in December 2000.

Mrs Scorey said she and business partner Stella Neaves intend to sell up after 14 years, because of the attacks.




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Related to this story:
Postmistress fought off attacker (30 May 08 |  Hampshire )

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