Grandmother Ann Timson became a national treasure after she fought off a gang of armed men who were attempting to rob a jewellery shop – sadly the crime fighting grandma has passed at 85
A grandma who battered a group of armed robbers with her handbag and foiled a jewellery heist has passed away after she became a national hero.
The crime fighting grandma Ann Timson was given the moniker of “super gran” after she squared up with sledgehammer wielding thieves back in 2011. Tributes have poured in for the 85-year-old pensioner who passed away in her sleep after her health began to decline in her old age.
During the hair-raising incident which catapulted the gran to national treasure status, the old woman was spotted charging at a gang attempting to steal £100,000 worth of watches from Michael Jones Jeweller in Northampton. The wild footage of the nan went viral online catapulting the woman to international stardom.
Ann went on to appear on televisions across the world and also received a Pride of Britain Award and a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II following her heroics. Shortly following the armed robbery the grandma pulled back the lid on what was going through her head during the scrap.
The grandma stated: “My mother’s instinct kicked in and I ran across the road shouting at the lads to stop it. I was not going to stand by and watch someone take a beating so I intervened.
“As I got closer I saw it was a robbery and then I was even more angry they felt they could get away with that in broad daylight. One of the gang shot off on a scooter and nearly hit a woman and baby.”
Ann added: “I clobbered him with my shopping, but he got away. The rest were still trying to smash and grab the jewellery. I just kept swinging my bag, then they tried to escape. I landed several blows against one lad on the back of a bike and brought him to the ground. He raised a hammer to me so I kept hitting out.”
Following the shocking robbery five men were jailed for a total 26 years at Northampton Crown Court after they admitted to conspiracy to burgle.
At the time of sentencing Judge Charles Wide QC stated: “The only reason why they did not get away with even more was the extraordinary intervention by Mrs Timson.”
The judge added: “She took on those young men who were armed with sledgehammers. No praise is too high.”
Ann’s son, Andre Dash, said the fact his mother attacked the armed robbers with her handbag was not surprising.
Andre said: “The first thing I thought when I saw the footage was that it was obviously my mum because of the bright red hair and bright red coat. What didn’t surprise me was that she ran towards danger.
“She thought a child was being attacked, which is why she ran across the road waving her handbag. It wasn’t until she got there that she realised it was a jewellery robbery.
“What surprised me was that she wasn’t seriously hurt. I actually found out from America. I got a phone call from a journalist in Los Angeles asking me what I thought about what my mum had done and I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
“I sent them a picture of mum holding my daughter Charlie when she was born because she didn’t have social media. The next thing we knew she was ‘Supergran’.”
The gran’s funeral is set to be held at Northampton Crematorium on July 29, at 11.30am. Due to Ann’s vibrant personality, mourners have been asked to wear bright colours rather than black.
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