Pensioner, 84, fights off mugger with just a pair of jeans inside a launderette

This is the moment an 84-year-old man fought off a robber by whipping him with a pair of jeans inside a launderette.

Ron Croker, was inside the Coin op Launderette in Maltby, South Yorkshire, last Tuesday at 7.30am, when suddenly a masked robber burst in and demanded money.

What followed was a heated exchange between the pair of men but Ron miraculously managed to defend himself with the pair of jeans.

Throughout the video, the robber can be heard saying ‘give me your f***ing money now’ and Ron replying ‘you get out of here, I haven’t got any money’.

The robber then flees the scene but seconds later returns before Ron decides to beat him even harder with the pair of jeans.

It is these final few blows that result in the robber running away for the second time and Ron embracing victory.

Ron told MailOnline that he had never experienced anything like it and thought he was going to die.

He said: ‘He came in screaming “give me your f-ing money”, I gave him a good shove back and it came as a shock to him and it just went from there.

‘As kids we used to scrap and knew how to protect ourselves, I had no fear in what I was doing, all I was thinking is has he got a knife, is he going to pull it out on me.’

The fight left Ron injured so members of the community have set up a GoFundMe page for him that has raised £2,740 so far.

He added: ‘I was just brought up to protect myself and I was not going to give in to him. When I close my eyes the only thing I can see is this thug racing towards me with a mask on, it’s all I can see at night.

‘I hope I did a favour to people because if it hadn’t have been me it would have been somebody else. He just wanted to terrify people for money.

‘The Maltby people have been fantastic for the kindness they have shown to me. People who I’ve never seen before have come up to me to check I’m ok.’

A worker at the launderette saw what unfolded and said: ‘I couldn’t put into words what I think of the person who does that. It’s disgusting and any bloke shouldn’t have to be scared just going about his daily life.’

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that a man called Lloyd Smith, 42, has been charged with attempted robbery in connection with the incident.

He has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on February 7.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: ‘Spider-Man’ stalker unmasked after leaving unwanted gifts outside victim’s home

MORE: Police operator’s quick thinking saved abuse victim who called 999 and asked for pizza

MORE: Dad-of-two’s ‘missed flight home’ was booked after he was murdered