Have-a-go hero grandfather uses sledgehammer to chase away armed robbers

Heroic Peter Stubbs was enraged when he saw two armed men burst into his off licence, so he grabbed hold of his sledgehammer and chased them out of his shop before eventually pinning one of them to the ground.

But the 58-year-old grandfather, who no longer feels safe in his own home, believes he has been let down by the legal system.

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Mr Stubbs saw David Watterson and Peter Berry sentenced to jail terms he thinks were too lenient and has even been criticised by the police for confronting the robbers.

Watterson, 18, got five years jail and his accomplice just two and a half.

"Getting jail terms of five years and two and a half for waving a gun and a meat cleaver in someone's face with a baby nearby is a joke," said Mr Stubbs.

"I am so sick of this country - it's going to the dogs and we need to do something about it.

"These yobs have only one intention and that is to do permanent damage. It is not the sort of society I want to live in any more.

"We should come down on these people really hard - the punishment has to fit the crime and not antiquated laws. "This raid has really affected our family.

"It has effectively cost me and my wife time with our Grandson because my son and his wife don't feel safe visiting us.

"After the raid I did stop and think that maybe I shouldn't have gone after them.

"I realise I might have been hurt but although it was a petrifying experience I would do it again - it was just my reaction. I wanted to protect my family.

"The one positive thing to come out of all this is the community spirit that numerous people round here showed in helping us."

His wife Sheila, also 58, said: "These two yobs will be laughing at what they got. They should have been given 15 years each to make others think it is not worth it."

On June 1, last year, Mr Stubbs was watching TV with his family in his front room when he saw two masked men enter his shop, Stubbs Off Licence in Edgeley, Manchester, on the CCTV.

Fearing for the safety of his family and three month old grandson on his first visit to his home, Mr Stubbs confronted the pair, armed with a sledgehammer.

"I was watching the football with my family when I saw the two men come in the shop on the CCTV.

"I saw that one of them had a meat cleaver and I saw red. I said to my wife, daughter in law and my son 'stay there, I'll sort it out'.

"I ran into the shop and picked up a wooden plank on my way to use as a weapon but my son stopped me from using it because he saw one of them had a gun.

"With that they ran out of the shop but I grabbed a sledgehammer which I had using for DIY purposes and we chased after them. I was so angry that they could put my family in danger.

"They ran all the way through the neighbours gardens and garages and even threw away their weapons in a garden where two young children were playing.

"The neighbours were shouting at us where to find them and one of them was hiding behind a fence, so we cornered him and the police arrived just a few minutes later.

"The other lad had run off in another direction."

Mr Stubbs, who has owned the off-licence for 25 years with his wife Sheila is now re-fitting the shop to be more secure and has installed a buzzer system at the front door.

This week at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Watterson, of Davenport, Stockport was jailed for five years after he was found guilty of attempted robbery following a trial.

Berry, 25, was arrested after his DNA was found inside a balaclava worn during the robbery. He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail last year after he admitted his role in the attempted robbery.

Det Con Katherine Moriarty of Greater Manchester Police said: "I am delighted we have brought both offenders to justice.

"I would like to thank local residents who saw where the offenders went and managed to direct us to The Circuit where Watterson was arrested only minutes later.

"His arrest led us to a second man, and DNA evidence proved conclusive in securing his conviction.

"The shop owner decided to confront the offenders and thankfully managed to frighten them off.

"Although his actions seemed heroic, the outcome could have been a lot worse. I would urge anyone that may find themselves in a similar situation not to put themselves in any danger but to call police."