Fitness instructor takes sprints 100metres to take down knife-wielding robber

7:00am Thursday 14th February 2013 in Echo News By David Trayner

Have-a-go hero Sam Lake Have-a-go hero Sam Lake

A FORMER Paratrooper and personal trainer sprinted 100metres to take down a knife-wielding thug who robbed a woman in her own home.

Fearless Sam Lake, 25, of Cossington Road, Westcliff, bundled the 6ft “scum bag” to the floor and held him down until police arrived after he broke into a home Esplanade Gardens, Chalkwell.

Sam said: “I just saw two women screaming hysterically and pointing at a guy.

“He was a fair distance away, but I’m lucky with the career I’ve had, and the fitness I have. I knew I would catch him."

The fitness instructor, who served as a sharp shooter with the Parachute Regiment, had just finished a training session with a client on Chalkwell Beach at about 3pm on Monday when he saw the two middle-aged women screaming, and the robber running up Chalkwell Avenue.

Without a second thought he gave chase.

As he passed the distraught women they warned the man had robbed them at knife-point, but this only spurred Sam on.

He added: “When I heard he had a knife it didn’t bother me. I’ve dealt with situations like that in Afghanistan before.”

He caught the robber, who dropped an iPad while fleeing, at the junction with Kings Road.

The burly man, who smelled of alcohol, struggled, but super-fit Sam held him firm until police arrived, handcuffed the thug and took him away.

Comments(15)

Eric the Red says...
7:11am Thu 14 Feb 13

Well done,Sam - we could do with more like you.

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DogsMessInLeigh says...
7:54am Thu 14 Feb 13

Top geezer...train a few like yourself up and take down the scum.
Well done Sam.

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Nebs says...
8:03am Thu 14 Feb 13

Hero.

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pembury53 says...
8:05am Thu 14 Feb 13

DogsMessInLeigh wrote:
Top geezer...train a few like yourself up and take down the scum. Well done Sam.
Yes. top bloke... I hope he isn't charged with assault. Nothing now would surprise me in this sick nation...

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QuestionTime says...
8:35am Thu 14 Feb 13

Perhaps the Echo would like to rewrite the subject headline, someone has made an error in its wording!

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Russ13 says...
8:57am Thu 14 Feb 13

I hope Sam made sure the guy was very well acquainted with the pavement!!!

Well done fella!

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streetboy75 says...
9:55am Thu 14 Feb 13

good man, well done

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perini says...
10:00am Thu 14 Feb 13

QuestionTime wrote:
Perhaps the Echo would like to rewrite the subject headline, someone has made an error in its wording!
No - that's the standard level of Echo reporting, spelling and grammar.

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Soouthchurch59 says...
10:02am Thu 14 Feb 13

'He added: “When I heard he had a knife it didn’t bother me. I’ve dealt with situations like that in Afghanistan before'

Hmm, really?

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Walt Jabsco says...
10:31am Thu 14 Feb 13

Top bloke, lets hope the scumbag he caught gets banged up for a long time....doubt it.

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barneydrop says...
1:22pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Unfortunately, there's probably a good chance that a bright solicitor will suggest that the robber sue Mr Lake for loss of earnings!

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Chris storey says...
3:31pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I'm suprised the plod didn't arrest him and do him for assault but it probably hasn't sunk in yet what happened.

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Boyracer_1991 says...
5:24pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Maybe he should take a job in the police force, as most policeman now are nowhere near this fit. But dont though Sam, because alot of people would lose alot of respect for you. Well done though.

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leighman says...
8:26pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Knew I'd seen the name before, January 18th story on here about the council thinking of charging for the use of Chalkwell park for 'boot camp' training sessions.

Apart from that... Good man!

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Seasider90 says...
10:22pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Top fella - hope the scumbag got a few "extras" as he went down. Most people don't do anything these days - nothing wrong with that as so many brave criminals carry blades and the judges continually let them off so they continue carrying them. I will bet money now theres a leeching lawyer ready "he's on an alcohol programme" your honour, "he's a changed man", "he's now going to church" etc etc. Only the brain dead species called judges fall for this clap trap.

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