Reward for hero builder

A hero builder who helped capture a mugger after he tried to grab a woman’s necklace was awarded £500 by an Old Bailey judge.

Father of nine Lawrence Parkes, 46, attacked Sindhu Nair outside Barons Court tube station
on August 17 last year.

Ms Nair screamed and Gary Fielding, working on a nearby building site, ran over and pulled Parkes away.

Mr Fielding feared the robber might be armed with a knife so he let him go but gave police his description.

Parkes was arrested nearby and he was jailed for 27 months for attempted robbery at the Old Bailey.

Judge John Hillen awarded the builder £500 for his bravery in rushing to Ms Nair’s aid and said: ‘Mr Fielding did not want the defendant to get away and held him there but then became concerned that the defendant could have a knife with him.

‘As there was no police nearby he let the defendant go.

‘His intervention prevented any further injury to the victim in this case.’

Mr Fielding gave a description of Parkes to police and he apprehended nearby.

Parkes has nine children from multiple partners aged between 16 and 36.

Brinder Soora, defending Parkes, said he was under the influence of alcohol when he mugged Ms Nair.

She said he had received help with managing his drinking while in custody and that he hoped to reconcile with the mothers of his children.

Ms Soora said Parkes hoped to return to his passion for writing and performing pop music.

Parkes of Edith Road, Barons Court, west London, admitted attempted robbery.

He was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment.
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