Car smashed in carpark

Sarah Midgley claims a man shunted his car several times into a Peugeot 106 Quicksilver in Sainsburys car park and then drove away.

By then he had pushed the Peugeot up and across the pavement into sidenetting on the boundary.

He attempted to leave the carpark but by this point Sarah, of Euro Car Parks, was running to stop him and calling 999 at the same time. PCSO Mick Hill was in Station Road and responded to the emergency within minutes - the driver was stopped from leaving the car park and was arrested and taken to Bexhill Station

He is alleged to have driven into three other cars on his way round the car park.

Sarah said she heard a loud bang and looked up to see what was happening: "I saw him driving forward and smash into a car. Then he went back and did it again...and went back and did it again. I started to chase him up there...I thought - you are not going to get away with that, mate.

"I was running up the car park and on the phone to the police at the same time. I was not going to let him go - no way.

The owner of the Peugeot praised Sarah as "the hero of the day."

Timmi Penrose was returning to her car with three month old daughter Louise in a pushchair and mum Gillian Oliver also at her side. She was standing by the car park entrance when she began to notice what was happening to her car.

Timmi, who is from West Ham in Pevensey, said: "It happened as we were walking down. If it had been five minutes we could have been in that car. I feel terrified when I think what could have happened...I think when the driver realised what he had done he was in shock. I am so grateful it was only the car that was hurt. If someone had been walking past they would have no knees left, but no-one was injured and it is only a car at the end of the day. Louise is fine...Mum is fine, and I am fine. No-one is hurt."

Mum Gillian, of St Patrick's Crescent, said: "I think Sarah did a very good job. She was very courageous as well - a brave lady."