Gran throws knifeman out of Leeds hair salon

Ann Dalton, 65, showed no fear when the robber burst into Haircharm in Rothwell, near Leeds, before pulling out a 10-inch hunting knife and demanding cash.

The pensioner put down her hair-colouring kit and grabbed the hapless offender during the raid on Friday afternoon.

Her two daughters – who both work at the salon – and her three-year-old granddaughter were in the shop along with two customers when the drama unfolded. Mrs Dalton said: “He pulled out a knife with a serrated blade. He moved towards me and I said ‘you must be joking.’”

She added: “I would do it again. I’m not being threatened in my own property.”

The attempted robbery happened at the salon at the junction of Carlton Lane and Butcher Lane just after 1.30pm on Friday.

Mrs Dalton, who has worked at the salon for 44 years, was colouring her 26-year-old daughter Stephanie Dalton’s hair when the raider walked in. Her eldest daughter, Nicola Maddock, 35, was cutting a customer’s hair and her three-year-old daughter Alexia was with hairdresser Susan Ward in a back room.

Mrs Dalton said: “It freaked my daughters out because they saw me fighting with him and they thought I was going to get stabbed.

“It’s how I am and I would do the same thing again. I had two daughters in there and a grandchild. We had two customers in there as well. You have got to protect people that are your responsibility.”

Police said the knifeman is described as a thin, mixed race and 5ft 8in to 6ft tall. He was wearing a black jacket and light-coloured bottoms and was carrying a bright yellow drawstring carrier bag.

Anyone with information is urged to call West Yorkshire Police on 101.