Councillor fights off muggers (From Streatham Guardian)

Councillor John Whelan fights off muggers behind Lambeth Town Hall

4:31pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News

The leader of the Conservative party in Lambeth fought off muggers at the rear of the town hall on Monday night.

Councillor John Whelan said a man sidled-up to him as he was walking along a bit of pavement, off Buckner Road, to go in the back of the town hall at about 8pm.

Coun Whelan said the man asked for a cigarette while another man came up and took his wallet from his jacket pocket.

He said: "I lurched at him and lurched at the other man knocking him off his balance.

"They both ran away throwing my wallet down."

Coun Whelan said the young men escaped with £10 from his wallet, but he recovered his council, credit and Oyster cards.

He said: "It was a very instinctive thing to do and probably the wrong thing to do.

"I was just so angry.

"I still feel a bit shaken up about it and I certainly keep a better eye out for people approaching me in the street."

Coun Whelan said he had not spoken to police, but council Chief Executive Derrick Anderson had undertaken to review safety measures around the town hall.

He said: "It shows he takes the safety of people in the town hall seriously.

"It could have been anybody."