A Sale pensioner who attacked a bank robber holding a sword says he would do it all again.

Have-a-go hero Kenneth Boyer, aged 70, spoke exclusively to SAM after five men were sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison for an armed robbery on the Halifax Bank, on School Road, Sale, in January.

Kenneth, a retired florist, who gave more than just a bit extra, said: "You never know how you're going to react under those circumstances but I detest the criminal element. My first thought was to fight back so I ran at the man on the door.

"It was just a spontaneous reaction. At first I thought he had a steel baton - I didn't realise it was a sword. But frankly I don't think I'd react any different if it happened again."

It seemed like a normal Tuesday morning for Kenneth who walked across to the bank, at about 9.30am, after collecting his pension. "I walked up to the guard rail and stopped to check my stuff before going to the counter. Then, all of a sudden, there was some shouting behind me," he explained.

"At first I thought it was a drunk causing a nuisance but then there was a big bang and a man - who I recognised as a member of staff - fell to the ground on his back.

"There was two guys standing over him who were wearing black full facial motorcycle helmets and holding silver coloured batons. The other staff were locked in behind the counter and these two men were shouting to them to open the door."

At this point Kenneth, who enjoys jogging, decided to attempt to break his way out and raise the alarm.

"I saw the man on the floor and had a quick choice to yield or fight my way out. At the door there was another man wielding what turned out to be a sword.

"I ran straight for this man and belted him and he shifted away from the entrance. The doors opened and as I fell through he hit me across the back with the weapon."

But Kenneth's ordeal didn't end there. As he ran out of the bank another member of the gang, on a scrambler motorbike deliberately ran him over. He explained: "Outside there were two other guys on off-road bikes. Both of them were revving their motors like hell, buzzing around in ever decreasing circles.

"They didn't hesitate to go for me as soon as I was outside the door. One of them dumped his clutch and rode straight at me. He knocked my legs from under me and I fell to the ground hitting my left temple on the floor.

"By the time I'd got back to my feet they were off. As I understand it five guys got on two bikes - which means there must have been three on one - it was like a scene from Laurel and Hardy."

Kenneth suffered internal bleeding and severe bruising to his right leg.

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