Karate Kid Saves Mum From Thief

Sun, 25 November 2007 Courtesy of: The Sun Online

An armed thief has been jailed after being tackled by a karate-loving teenage girl.

Brown belt Rebecca Kelly, 13, was being picked up from her martial arts class by mum Diane, 53, when they were viciously attacked.

James Cordingley, 29, was high on heroin and crack cocaine, had drunk eight cans of strong lager – and was desperate after being threatened by his dealer over a £60 debt.

He grabbed hold of Diane who was sitting in her car – and tried to stun her with electric shocks from a Taser.

Rebecca reacted immediately. She said: "I just saw red.

"Using the skills I'd learnt through my karate lessons I ran and jumped on to the man's back to pull him off my mum."

Rebecca then ran back to her class in Horsforth, West Yorks, and got three black belts to help her restrain Cordingley.

He was jailed for seven years at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to attempted robbery, possession of a weapon and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Diane said: "I'm so proud."