Violent thugs cash in after hero soldier's funeral

Alex Scapens

February 11, 2009

| Submit Comments | Comments (7) | Previous | Next

SCENE of crime: Marple Social and Forces Club

THE family of fallen Royal Marine, Danny Winter, have blasted cowardly armed thugs who tried to cash in on the heroic soldier’s funeral.

A gang of three masked men struck at Marple Forces and Social Club, on Lime Kiln Lane, on Monday (February 9) just after midnight.

They repeatedly smashed club steward Al Stonall with a hammer before leaving him unconscious in the snow with blood gushing from his head.

Both the club and Danny’s family are convinced the gang deliberately targeted the club just two days after it hosted his wake in the hope of making off with takings from the hundreds of mourners.

Danny’s mum Carolyn Hughes and step-dad Jez Arthur said: "We think it is deplorable. It was the wake for such a brave man and a fitting tribute for a man who laid his life down.

"So for a bunch of cowards to go up and take the money is disgusting. It has left a sour taste in the mouth because the steward had done so much for us, the staff up there were excellent.

"If anyone knows anything we would appeal for them to come forward because Danny put his life on the line for people to be decent and upstanding."

One of the gang - who had severed the club’s phonelines - attacked Mr Stonall as he was de-icing his car before leaving.

Mr Stonall fought back and pinned the robber down but then two more appeared carrying a hammer and a machete.

Three savage blows left him with gaping head wounds and a broken arm, which will need to have a metal plate inserted.

The thugs then went inside and forced Al’s partner Christine to empty the safe before tying her up in the cellar and escaping with around £1,500.

Mr Stonall, 52, of Marple, said: "It makes me angry they have come in and taken the money. We think it is because of the funeral which makes it even worse.

"What can these people respect if they can’t respect that? I was smacked over the head with a hammer and left for dead but that’s nothing compared to what Danny’s family have been through."

After falling victim to a robbery last year, the club now banks regularly, so much of the bar takings had already gone.

Police are investigating, and urging anyone with information to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For more on the funeral click on the 'Related link' on the right of this page, and see this week's Express for more pictures from the funeral

Articles

Family’s pride in serving country

| Submit Comments | Comments (7) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 7 and replies | View All

noname togive (12/02/2009 at 08:50)

and what are the police doing about all the armed robbies in stockport?

smit88888 (12/02/2009 at 08:52)

stockport just seems like a really crime center now ,its a real shame and its only getting worse .you cant blame the goverment for this stuff its just society going further and further down.they need to have some think tanks or an open forum on how to turn this around before its so bad you cant go out at all

acky, stockport (12/02/2009 at 13:44)

IT MAKES ME SICK THERE IS A WAY ROUND IT BUT NO ONE WILL DO IT THEY SHOULD SEND ALL THE SCUM BAGS ON THE FRONT LINE BUT WITH OUT ANY GUNS !!!!!

jane hulse, stockport (12/02/2009 at 14:06)

Its such a great shame that my fellow stockportians can come down to such a new low. I can now honestly say that i am asshamed of where I live.

Happy H, stockport (12/02/2009 at 16:45)

Thugs....thats all can be said. They are utter scunbags, we need an island where we can just dump all these scum to starve. That poor boy died doing a job that these idiots probably were scared to do....disgusting they are and I pity the families of these kind of thugs

Roy Gregory, Exile (12/02/2009 at 19:14)

These vermin should be hoping that the Police find them before an off duty boot neck does. Taking the law into our own hands is becoming an increasingly attractive option. The Police and Courts instil no fear in the dregs of this society we’ve voted for.

Perhaps a word of commendation to Mr Stonall is in order. Fighting back takes courage and, regrettably, he didn’t finish on top. I, for one, wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Adrian L, Stockport (13/02/2009 at 16:02)

It's under 2 months since the Legion in Cheadle Hulme was robbed. Someone will get killed by these morons soon.

We'll never get into the warped minds of people who put someone's life at risk for £500 each but hopefully someone with some sort of conscience will report them before someone loses their dad, brother or son to complete cowards.

()

Report

News