The Pink fairy v fleeing robber

A fleeing dairy robber has been stopped in his tracks by a man wearing a pink crop top, tutu, fishnets and fairy wings on a Napier street.

Police said the ‘‘pink fairy’’ – Liam Fontaine – along with another member of the public, tackled the offender on Marine Parade after he had run from a dairy on Hastings St about 2pm yesterday.

Fontaine had taken part in a breast cancer awareness walk, hence the fairy garb.

‘‘We want to give our pink fairy hero and his acquaintance a big pat on the back for preventing this offender from getting away,’’ Eastern District command centre Senior Sergeant Kevin Stewart said. ‘‘We accept the pink uniform is rather effective and was popular with bystanders, but I think we’ll be sticking to the blue.’’

The 42-year-old offender entered the dairy wearing a balaclava and threatened a staff member, who chased the man out of the shop and across the road, police said.

The two men then assisted in the chase by tackling the man to the ground and holding him down, before calling police.

An off-duty police officer who was in the area arrived shortly after, helping to keep the man down until police arrived.

Stewart added: ‘‘While we encourage people to think about the risks involved before stepping in during an incident such as this, there is no denying that the efforts of these two good Samaritans have assisted us in preventing this person causing further harm in our community.

‘‘I also commend the actions of our off-duty officer who dropped what she was doing to respond and assist in this situation.’’

The man has been charged with aggravated robbery and is set to appear in Hastings District Court today. He has been treated for minor injuries.

Police are investigating the incident and are calling for anyone with information to contact them.