I say young lady, that's not cricket!

[Gob]

A teenager who knocked a burglar for six after she found him stealing her family’s possessions has been praised by a judge for her bravery.



Nawal Khasal, 17, hit thief Derek Perry with a cricket bat when she caught him in the act and then chased him before pointing him out to police when they arrived.

The teenager caught alcoholic Perry walking down the stairs of her family home with carrier bags full of items belonging to her and her brothers.

The 47-year-old dropped the bags and lunged at the young woman, punching her and knocking her to the ground.

However Nawal - a trainee fire fighter - picked up a cricket bat near the front door and took a swing at the burglar.

She hit him over the head and knocked him to the floor and when he ran out of the house she chased him, attempting to detain him before police arrived.

Perry, of Newsham Park in Liverpool, later claimed that it was not fair-play and Nawal should be arrested for assault.

But the judge who jailed alcoholic burglar Perry for five years commended the teenager’s actions.

Judge Mark Brown said: 'A householder is justifiably entitled to use reasonable and proportionate force to defend themselves and their property.

'It’s clear that this is all Miss Khasal was trying to do.'

Nawal said her actions had been a 'gut reaction' and said she was glad that Perry, who pleaded guilty, had got a lengthy sentence.

She said: 'It was around 2.30pm. Me and my mum had just come back from shopping and there was a hole in the door frame - one of the panels had been sawn or cut out.

'I jumped out of the car and came into the house. I heard him on the stairs when I went in. He was coming down the stairs with bags - he had the XBox, DVD player and some other stuff.

'He was coming down the stairs and then he punched me in the shoulder so I hit him with the cricket bat.'

The trainee firefighter who lives with her family in the city's Fairfield district, added: 'It was just a straight up reaction. I knew he was going to hit me.'

Nawal’s mum, Linda, a married mum-of-four, said being burgled was a 'horrible' experience and that she was proud of Nawal’s actions.

Judge Mark Brown's comments in full:

'There ought to be a judicial commendation as far as Nawal Khasal is concerned. This is only intended as a token mark of what she did but she will be awarded £250 out of the public purse.

'She acted with tremendous courage and determination. She was faced with a man of 47 years of age who presents as a physically strong individual.

'She is only 17 years of age. She is a great credit to people of her age. She not only stood up to him and gave as good as she received but she then pursued him and tried to detain him.

'When the police arrived she was able to make sure they were able to arrest him. It’s only through her actions that this crime was detected.

'I’m sure the general public would applaud her actions on this occasion. She is entitled to the thanks and congratulations of the court and the general public.'