Ref. 31125-05PLUCKY schoolboy Josh Jones fought off a robber who tried to steal his sweet money by elbowing him in the stomach.

The 12-year-old is now enjoying hero status among friends following the drama, which ended with the thief chasing him through Swin-don bus station.

Josh was waiting to pay for two chocolate bars at the Bus Station Kiosk in New Bridge Square when the thief struck.

The man demanded that Josh give him the 70p he had in his hand, but he refused.

"Suddenly, his hand came over my shoulder and he grabbed the money," said Josh, who was on his way to catch a school bus at the time.

Angry at losing his pocket money, Josh spun round and snatched the cash back.

But as he left the store, the thief pounced again, grabbing the terrified boy by the shoulder and pulling him along the pavement.

"It was really scary," he said. "I just tried to stay on my feet. He was holding me really tight."

Josh, a pupil at Highworth Warneford School, was determined to keep the cash, which he had earned by doing household chores.

"I elbowed him in the stomach as hard as I could," he said.

"He keeled over and was gasping for breath, so I ran as fast as I could towards my bus. He chased me, but I managed to get on. Then I suddenly realised I had walked out of the shop without paying for my chocolate."

Believing the thief had fled, Josh headed back to the shop.

"I was worried I would get into trouble for not paying," he said.

To Josh's horror, the thief spotted him leaving the store, and pursued him again as the boy ran for the safety of the waiting bus. Luckily, the driver realised what was happening and once Josh was safely aboard, he shut the doors to stop the thief from getting on as well.

It was only when Josh, of Stubsmead, Eldene, got to school that the trauma hit home. A teacher contacted his mum, Sandie, and the police were called.

The encounter has left Josh scared to go into the town centre alone, and he has been off school since. Sandie, 32, said: "He just broke down at school. But he's a hero now, and everyone has been congratulating him for his bravery."

Sandie is worried that the robber could target other children, and is appealing for the public to help catch him.

"I can't believe someone would try to steal money from a small boy," she said.

"He must be a pretty pathetic human being."

Josh's bravery has not only won praise from friends, but his three sisters Charlotte, eight, Sian, nine, and Sammy, 14.

Sian said: "We're very proud of him.

"It must have been scary, and he was lucky to get away okay."

The family are hoping to raise Josh's spirits by taking him to see the new Harry Potter film.

(BLOB) The incident happened at 8am on Thursday, June 24.

Police described the robber as a scruffy 5ft 8in white male of around 26 years of age.

He had short, ginger hair, a goatee beard and wore blue jeans, a multi-coloured short sleeved shirt and black hat.

Call Swindon police on 01793 528111.

Tamash Lal