‘Supergran’ who clobbered armed robbers with her handbag foiling £100k jewellery heist dies aged 85

A GRAN who became a national hero after foiling a jewellery heist by battering a group of armed robbers with her handbag has died aged 85. Ann Timson was given the nickname “Supergran” after she confronted a gang of sledgehammer-wielding thieves back in 2011. Ann Timson, known “Supergran” for confronting a gang in 2011, has died aged 85 Credit: SWNS CCTV captured her charging at a gang attempting to rob a jewellers in Northampton Credit: SWNS Tributes have flooded in for the hero pensioner who passed away peacefully in her sleep after a period of declining health. CCTV captured her charging at a gang attempting to rob £100,000 worth of watches from Michael Jones Jeweller in Northampton. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The footage quickly went viral and propelled her to international stardom as she appeared on television across the world. She later received a Pride of Britain Award and a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Ann later received a Pride of Britain award and a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery Credit: Dan Charity – The Sun She said her ‘mother’s instinct kicked in’ as she battered them with her handbag Credit: SWNS Speaking at the time, Ann, then 71, said: “My mother’s instinct kicked in and I ran across the road shouting at the lads to stop it. “I was not going to stand by and watch someone take a beating so I intervened. “As I got closer I saw it was a robbery and then I was even more angry they felt they could get away with that in broad daylight. “One of the gang shot off on a scooter and nearly hit a woman and baby. Most read in The Sun “I clobbered him with my shopping, but he got away. The rest were still trying to smash and grab the jewellery. “I just kept swinging my bag, then they tried to escape. I landed several blows against one lad on the back of a bike and brought him to the ground. “He raised a hammer to me so I kept hitting out.” Five men were jailed for a total of 26 years at Northampton Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to burgle in May 2011. Sentencing at the time, Judge Charles Wide QC said: “The only reason why they did not get away with even more was the extraordinary intervention by Mrs Timson. “She took on those young men who were armed with sledgehammers. No praise is too high.” Ann meets former PM David Cameron in 2011 at the Police Bravery reception in 2011 Credit: Jon Bond -The Sun Ann’s son, Andre Dash, said her actions in tackling the thugs with her handbag came as no surprise Credit: SWNS Her son Andre Dash said her actions in tackling the thugs armed with nothing more than her handbag came as no surprise. He said: “The first thing I thought when I saw the footage was that it was obviously my mum because of the bright red hair and bright red coat. “What didn’t surprise me was that she ran towards danger. “She thought a child was being attacked, which is why she ran across the road waving her handbag. “It wasn’t until she got there that she realised it was a jewellery robbery. “What surprised me was that she wasn’t seriously hurt. I actually found out from America. “I got a phone call from a journalist in Los Angeles asking me what I thought about what my mum had done and I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. “I sent them a picture of mum holding my daughter Charlie when she was born because she didn’t have social media. “The next thing we knew she was ‘Supergran’.” Despite the passing of 15 years since the robbery, Ann remained close to staff at Michael Jones Jeweller, regularly dropping in homemade Christmas cakes and mince pies. Ann was born Judith Ann Brittain on January 24, 1941, at her home while her father, Charles, was serving overseas during the Second World War. She spent her entire life in Northampton, growing up before raising Andre as a single mother after his father left when he was just six-months-old. Andre said “she worked three jobs to put food on the table” and “never complained”. Ann’s funeral will take place at Northampton Crematorium on July 29, at 11.30am. In keeping with her personality, mourners are being encouraged to wear bright colours rather than black. Comment now