A PENSIONER who arrived for her golf lesson was an unlikely hero in a violent knife-point robbery where a policeman was knocked unconscious.

The 66-year-old woman arrived to see three men running from Perivale Park Golf Club carrying a money box containing s3,500 of cash.

The masked robbers had entered the clubhouse, in Stockdove Way, Perivale, from the rear at about 9.30am on Monday (26). The cash-in-transit security guard collecting the money was threatened at knife-point before they tried to escape. 

Instinctively the unknown woman grabbed one of them, a 21-year-old man, in the car park before officers from the Flying Squad and firearms unit CO19 stepped in to detain the criminal. 

Another man, aged 20, carrying the looted cash then assaulted a Specialist Firearms Officer with the heavy metal box, knocking him unconscious. He was then detained by other CO19 officers. 

A third man, 19, was also arrested.

The injured officer was treated for concussion, had 19 stitches to his face and lip, and suffered two broken fingers and broken bones in his hand in the brutal attack. He has since been released from hospital. 

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Brian Dillon celebrated the bravery of the officer and the have-a-go hero. He said: "Every day, CO19 officers are deployed in dangerous circumstances to protect the public and unarmed colleagues. I pay tribute to the professionalism of all the officers involved and to the member of the public who had the courage to assist police."

Detective Inspector Neil Williams, of the Flying Squad based at Tower Bridge, said: "This was a very violent robbery where a significant amount of money was stolen. Due to the swift actions of Flying Squad and firearms officers, these people were arrested and the cash recovered."

* Three men appeared at Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (27) charged with robbery. They were all remanded in custody and due to appear at the Old Bailey in January.