By Ted JeoryA FEARLESS council worker was stabbed and bitten as he grappled with a burglar who was trying to break into his neighbour's home.Have-a-go hero Chris Parkin was bitten on the arm and stabbed twice in the leg and the body with a screwdriver by the burglar, but said he would do it again to stop a crime from taking place.

By Ted Jeory

A FEARLESS council worker was stabbed and bitten as he grappled with a burglar who was trying to break into his neighbour's home.

Have-a-go hero Chris Parkin was bitten on the arm and stabbed twice in the leg and the body with a screwdriver by the burglar, but said he would do it again to stop a crime from taking place.

Mr Parkin, a Colchester Borough Council employee, was enjoying the afternoon sunshine in his back garden in the town's Bergholt Road when he noticed a movement next door.

He went to have a look and spotted a well-built man, aged about 20. “I asked him whether he was looking for somebody and he said 'Yes, you',” recalled Mr Parkin.

“He tried to run, so I grabbed hold of him. He was really quite determined to get away. We bashed into the fence and ended up rolling around on the floor.

“He bit me on the arm and said 'I've got a screwdriver, I'm going to stab you'. At that point I was behind him and he lunged backwards and gave me two puncture wounds.”

The burglar managed to break free and fled through the back garden towards Colchester railway station.

Mr Parkin, a street lighting technician aged in his 30s, went to hospital for treatment to his wounds before going to Colchester police station to have them videoed for evidence.

“I'm glad I had a go, but it's quite sobering what could have happened. Instinct just took over,” he said yesterday.

“I think the police need our help, perhaps not to actually get involved like I did, but these criminals should at least be challenged.

“My wife's a bit proud of what I did, but at the same time she's thinks it was potentially dangerous.”

Detective Sergeant Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said Mr Parkin was a brave man and added: “This was a vicious attack by a determined thug.

“A screwdriver is a dangerous weapon and in some instances the injuries they can inflict are worse than from a knife.

“What Mr Parkin did is to be commended, but we always advise people to be wary of confronting criminals like this.”

Det Sgt Napier said there had been a number of burglaries in the area on the same day as Mr Parkin had been attacked and added police were not ruling out a link between them.

The burglar was described as white, aged between 18 and 20, 5ft 10in tall, of strong build, with short, fair, spiky hair and wearing cream trousers.

Anyone with any information about the incident, which happened on Friday afternoon should contact Colchester police on 01206 762212.

ted.jeory@eadt.co.uk