PO woman hurt in struggle with raider

Nov 5 2007 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A VILLAGE post-mistress bravely foiled a suspected armed robber by throwing a cup of tea at him, it was revealed yesterday.

The robber eventually fled empty-handed after what police described as a violent struggle with post-mistress Sheila Mulgrew, who is in her 50s.

She required hospital treatment for facial injuries.

Friends of Mrs Mulgrew praised her bravery last night for foiling the robber at her post office at Toft Hill on the A68 near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Police said he barged into the shop where Mrs Mulgrew was behind the counter shortly before 9.30am on Saturday.

He had an object underneath his jacket which he claimed was a gun, and his face was concealed by a motor-cycle helmet. Durham Police said the man demanded cash from Mrs Mulgrew but eventually fled empty-handed after what they described as a violent struggle with her.

He drove off in a silver-coloured car.

Yesterday Mrs Mulgrew, whose face bore the marks of her ordeal, was too shaken to talk about it.

But her friend Roz Brown, who runs a post office nearby, said: “Sheila was very brave indeed.

“The robber said he had a gun. He jumped over a baby gate to get behind the counter, but she threw a cup of tea at him. She was determined not to let him get away with robbing her.

“He hit her in the face and there was a struggle, but the robber ran off when a customer walked into the shop.”

Julie Dalrymple, who runs the Village Shop in Toft Hill, said: “It is very worrying that the robber must have been hanging around watching the shop.

“Sheila was very brave to fight him off.”

Three years ago Mrs Mulgrew won the North-East regional Post Office title in the rural category after her customers voted for her.

As well as all the usual post office services, Mrs Mulgrew has computer facilities with internet access, raises funds for the local school, sells books in aid of the local hospice, recycles shoes for the Variety Club and sells Fair Trade goods from the Third World.

Police have appealed for anybody in the area at the time of the robbery to contact them on 0845 606-0365.