Have-a-go hero, 60, halts sword attack

Sep 2 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A PENSIONER last night told of the moment he fought off a man brandishing a samurai sword using his walking stick.

David Fawcett, 60, had gone to Mo’s pizzeria on Gateshead High Street with two friends after going out for a drink. Following an argument, a man confronted them with a samurai sword, slashing Mr Fawcett’s hand.

But despite suffering a deep gash which needed stitches, the former social worker fought back, hitting his attacker over the head with his walking stick.

Mr Fawcett and his friends Elaine Layton and Tony McConnell, spoke of the terrifying moment they were faced with the sword in the early hours of yesterday.

Mr Fawcett, of Abbot Court, Gateshead, said: “A man was urinating outside and Elaine asked him to stop. He got a bottle of beer and smashed her three times in the hand. I got between them and he ran off saying he was going to get a sword and kill us.

“Elaine phoned the police but we didn’t really think too much of it. Five minutes later he was back with the sword and chased me and Tony into the takeaway.”

Mr Fawcett said as they dashed into the shop he tried to shut the door but the man slashed his hand with the sword before continually raising the blade above his head and trying to smash the glass door.

It was as the man tried to force his way into Mo’s that Mr Fawcett moved to protect his friends and the others inside, striking the attacker on the head with his stick.

“I don’t think there was anything heroic about it. It was terrifying – I was shaking – but I just had to protect my friends,” he said. When I saw they were going for Elaine, I had to do something.”

Following the arrival of police officers, the man ran away but was caught and arrested nearby. Ms Layton, 26, of Station View, Chester-le-Street, who was taken to Gateshead’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital along with Mr Fawcett, said: “Every time I close my eyes I see his face. I’m still shaking now. I have been being sick all day – it has really affected me.

Mr McConnell said he gave chase when the man tried to flee. “It made me so angry,” said Mr McConnell, 22, a DJ of Abbot Court, Gateshead. “I was throwing up and my adrenalin was on a high. I keep going over it in my head.”

Police cordoned off the scene for a short period while the area was examined by forensic officers.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “After a short chase the offender was arrested nearby after abandoning the sword which was later located,” he said.

“The offender received hospital treatment for a head injury prior to being brought into custody.” He added that a 30-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Night of terror

THE manager of the takeaway said the actions of Mr Fawcett potentially saved the lives of everyone in the restaurant.

Ali Cheraghi, 32, said he tried to get around 10 people who were in the store behind the counter to protect them.

"He was just swinging it wildly," he said.

"If he had hit someone it would have cut them in two.

"We were all terrified and shaking. He kept lifting the sword over his head and slashing down against the glass but it wouldn’t crack.

"If it wasn’t for the man with the walking stick there would have been a lot of blood."