Blind BBC reporter Sean Dilley stops thief from stealing his phone - BBC

A unsighted BBC newsman managed to halt a mugger from stealing his mobile telephone by "instinctively" leaping connected him.

Sean Dilley took a interruption to spell extracurricular for a java during his nighttime displacement astatine London's New Broadcasting House erstwhile helium was targeted aboriginal connected Tuesday.

A idiosyncratic riding a motorcycle snatched the telephone but Dilley did not springiness up easy and alternatively made a split-second determination to effort to detain his attacker.

He said afterwards helium suspected helium was targeted due to the fact that of his blindness.

A subordinate of the nationalist is allowed to effort an apprehension if they fishy a transgression enactment is taking spot and they mean to present the fishy to the custody of constabulary arsenic soon arsenic possible,

Dilley took his accidental erstwhile helium sensed that his attacker was inactive adjacent to him truthful jumped successful that absorption and managed to get them onto the ground.

He past restrained their arms and was capable to retrieve his phone.

Dilley, who sustained respective cuts and injured his elbow successful the incident, said helium was acrophobic astir protecting himself but besides wanted to guarantee the idiosyncratic was arsenic harmless arsenic possible.

He utilized a dependable adjunct connected his telephone to telephone 999. As helium waited for the police, different idiosyncratic arrived and offered to help.

At that stage, with his assailant continuing to struggle, Dilley told them helium would fto them spell arsenic agelong arsenic they near immediately.

Three constabulary officers arrived soon aft and Dilley said helium was grateful to them for their speedy response, describing their cognition towards him arsenic "friendly" and "helpful". The trio walked him backmost into the BBC newsroom wherever they took afloat details of what had happened.

Dilley said helium hoped that his instinctive actions mightiness unit the thief to reconsider their actions successful future.

"He picked the incorrect unsighted idiosyncratic connected the incorrect day," helium said.

He described his ain actions arsenic "stupid" and advised anybody successful a akin concern that nary spot is worthy risking their beingness for and to simply telephone the police.

However, Mr Dilley said helium can't unreal helium is not blessed helium got his telephone back.

Police are investigating the incidental arsenic an attempted robbery and are are appealing for witnesses who saw what happened successful Bolsover Street, successful cardinal London, conscionable earlier 06:00 GMT. The witnesser who stopped to assistance told constabulary the idiosyncratic ran disconnected successful the absorption of Greenwell Street. Anyone with accusation should telephone 101 quoting CAD 1115/27Dec.