A 27-year-old man has been charged with the violent burglary of a security store in Purley.

On May 17, the owner of The Security Store on Godstone Road, spotted a thief rifling through the till and allegedly stealing £90 while the shop assistant’s back was turned.

Retired policeman Graham Peacock chased the man down the road with sales manager Danny Parker.

The burglar returned to the shop but soon became violent, allegedly threatening Mr Peacock’s pregnant 19-year-old secretary Rhoda Winter, throwing a fire extinguisher and a motorcycle helmet at the front window before throwing himself out of it to escape.

Mr Peacock, 65, had two of his ribs broken when trying to stop the burglar from getting away.

Leroy Lawless has been charged with burglary, aggravated bodily harm and criminal damage on May 17.

He has also been charged with making off without payment from a Croydon petrol station on the same date.

He has been bailed to appear at Croydon Magistrates Court on Friday December, 10.