London mayor Boris Johnson has been dubbed a 'knight on a shining bicycle' after coming to the aid of a woman being attacked by a gang of girls.
The politician saved filmmaker Franny Armstrong after she was surrounded by a group of hoodie-clad teen girls, one of whom was wielding an iron bar.
Armstrong, the director of climate change doco 'The Age Of Stupid', called out for help to a passing cyclist - who turned out to be Johnson.
He stopped and chased the girls down the street, Armstrong told the UK's Guardian newspaper.
"I was texting on my phone so didn't notice the girls until they pushed me against the car," she said.
"Then along came a cyclist. And I thought, 'Good, he's a big bloke,' and shouted, 'Can you help me please?'
"I said, 'That's the mayor of London!' and they ran off," Armstrong added to the Guardian. "They must have thought they were going to get in trouble.
"He said to the girls, 'What do you think you are doing?' He picked up the iron bar, called after the girls and cycled after them. He returned a few minutes later and walked me home."
Johnson, who took over from Ken Livingstone as the city's leader in May last year, has made tackling youth crime a key priority.
Armstrong, who is the founder of the 10:10 campaign which aims to cut 10% of carbon emissions in 2010, added to the paper that although she didn't agree with Johnson's politics, he was certainly useful "if you find yourself down a dark alleyway".
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28 Comments
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antiquemary 05:12am Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report AbuseTruly a knight in shining armour !!!!!! At least he backs up his words with actions, he is not just a lot of bull dust. A man to be admired, like Michael Laws a Man with Guts.
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mike c 04:41am Friday 06th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Nice one Boris. We are with you....polotics aside of course
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Bruce 08:01pm Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
good on him for stopping...they should execute a few teens and their parents....that would fix em.
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downunder992003 07:49pm Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
A good brave man is a rare find at best these days, so hats off when one does present himself. I personally am reeling at the comment that the South Island is so scarce of decent human beings. Living in the North Island we always have the perception that the South Island is by and large where all the good values still are and where certainly the 'heart land' people can still be found. Sad to hear the decline is everywhere. Our moral compass must be broken.
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Ang 07:08pm Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Down in the South Island here in New Zealand most people could not be bothered or would be afraid to do anything like this, esp. politicians. And the police... you would be lucky if they came within 2 hours after you called them for an urgent matter such as this case... (and don't think I am exaggerating).
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georgehdavies 06:06pm Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
keep up the good work boris. safer communities together
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stinger 04:38pm Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Instead of continually going around the world to talkfests,why can't our politicians be real men like this one! Go BORIS
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