EXCLUSIVE

By Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

A have-a-go-hero wrestled a knife-wielding maniac to the ground after she stormed into a bank screaming for money.

Darren Hanoomensing says he did not think about his own safety when he tackled the crazed woman at Barclays Bank, in Purley.

He said: "I was just standing in the queue and she came in, took out a knife and started screaming that she wanted money, she was hysterical.

"I grabbed her, it was instinct. I thought there are lots of us, and one of her, and held her until the police came."

Modest Mr Hanoomensing, 39, from Brighton Road, Purley, insists he was merely doing what any decent citizen should.

He said: "There was a young sales adviser she went for, and when I stopped her everybody said I was a hero.

"But I just thought if something like that was happening to me I'd want someone to help.

"I told her to calm down because she didn't want to let go of the knife.

"I tried to pull it out of her hand, and told another lady to come and take the knife off her, but she was trying to struggle."

The reality of what he had done only hit him when he left the bank after the incident last Thursday morning.

He said: "I didn't really think. It was only after I thought 'what did I just do'.

"My wife told me off when I explained what happened but it was instinct.

"Besides, the woman with the knife was tiny, and I didn't get hurt and neither did anyone else, so it was okay in the end."

Mike Bull, area director for Barclays, praised Mr Hanoomensing's bravery.

He said "I am very grateful to Mr Hanoomensing for his help on the day.

"He assessed the situation very quickly and came across to help the personal banker.

"Thanks to his swift action no one was hurt in this incident.

"I have already personally thanked Mr Hanoomensing for his help and we will be sending both him, and another customer who came to the aid of our member of staff, an early Christmas present as a small token of our appreciation."

Police confirmed that a 51-year-old woman was detained under the Mental Health Act after the incident.

A police spokeswoman said: "It (the attempted robbery) happened around 9.30 am. A woman entered the bank and began shouting and demanding money.

"There were several members of public in the bank at the time.

"She then produced a knife from her bag and started shouting at a 23 year-old woman, a personal banker who was working from a desk in the public part of the bank."