Grandmother wrestles stolen £1,200 bike from 6ft man who tried to sell it to her

This is the moment a great-grandmother wrestled a 6ft man who tried to sell her a stolen £1,200 bike for £150.

Mari Parker, 72, knew the bike had been stolen having read about its theft on Facebook and refused to let the thief leave the store with it.

However, the unnamed male in his 20s returned half an hour later and tried to take the bike back by force.

CCTV footage shows 5ft 3in Mari in a minute-long tug-of-war with the thug outside the shop as she hung on to the bike frame.

The hooded thief can been seen violently pulling at the bike and trying to mount it to cycle away but his efforts were thwarted by the determined pensioner.

He eventually fled empty-handed and the designer mountain bike was later reunited with its owner.

Gran of eight Mari said: "I'm sure he must be a bit embarrassed now that he was beaten by a 72-year-old woman."

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The incident happened on a Sunday morning at Mari's son Daniel's antique shop, Barnsley Antiques Centre, where she helps out part-time.

Speaking of how she grappled with the thug, Mari added: "A couple of customers came out to help but I was worried about what would happen with them so I told them to leave it to me and that they should call the police.

"But I refused to let go.

"I knew a young boy was coming back for his bike and I couldn't tell them we didn't have it.

"Thinking back now I'm not sure I'd have done that if I'd have really thought about it, but it was all a spur-of-the moment thing and it happened so quickly."

The Lapierre X Control 310 full suspension mountain bike has now been re-united with its 13-year-old owner, Luke Hodson.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that a 23-year-old Doncaster man was arrested in connection with the incident, that happened in October last year.

The force added: ”The bike was returned to its rightful owner, who did not wish to pursue a prosecution."