Blind BBC news correspondent reveals how he snatched his mobile phone from a robber

Blind BBC news correspondent reveals how he snatched his mobile phone from a robber – then ‘safely detained him’

A blind BBC News journalist has revealed how he threw a thief from his bike after he ‘snatched and stole’ his iPhone from his hands. 

Sean Dilley, from London, was taking a break during his night shift at New Broadcasting House when he was targeted early on Tuesday.

The reporter held the thief down with his body and legs and called 999 before letting him go when other people arrived. 

He revealed on Twitter he was left with a cuts and bruises after taking a ‘running jump and dive’ onto the robber before getting his phone back. 

Blind BBC news correspondent reveals how he snatched his mobile phone from a robber

British reporter Sean Dilley (pictured) was left with a cuts and bruises after taking a ‘running jump and dive’ onto the robber before getting his phone back

He wrote: ‘A man on a bike just snatched and stole my iPhone from my hand wrong blind person wrong day 

‘Jumped on him, safely detained and got my phone back quite a few cuts and bruises but tweeting on the phone he stole (and I recovered).’

Later, speaking to the BBC, the news correspondent explained he had sensed that his attacker was still next to him so jumped in that direction.

He managed to get the attacker to the ground, restraining their arms, before retrieving his phone.

Sean explained how he held the thief down with his body and legs and called 999 before letting him go when other people arrived

Sean explained how he held the thief down with his body and legs and called 999 before letting him go when other people arrived

While restraining the thief, he used a voice assistant on his mobile to call 999.  However as he waited for the police, he ended up letting the thief go.

He explained: ‘I apprehended him.

‘In fact, I arrested him and advised him as such the thing is.

‘It had been a few minutes and I had my phone back. I decided discretion is the better part of valour. 

‘Police are checking the CCTV. If they spot him, he will be arrested by them.’

He added: ‘I think the gentleman had the shock of his life. That is one iPhone 14 pro that the person who worked very hard to pay for has recovered and I think he’s quite lucky.

‘I do know what I’m doing and I do know the legals someone else probably would have reacted more harshly.’ 

Mr Dilley was born with congenital blindness which is a condition which leaves people visually impaired

Mr Dilley was born with congenital blindness which is a condition which leaves people visually impaired

What is congential blindness? 

Congenital blindness refers to a group of diseases and conditions occurring in childhood or early adolescence of below 16 years old, which, if left untreated, result in blindness or severe visual impairment that are likely to be permanent blindness later in life.

Congenital blindness is a hereditary disease and can be cured by gene therapy.

Visual loss in children or infant can occur either at the stage of prenatal (during the time of conception or intrauterine period) or postnatal stage (during birth).

A variety of causes can promote congenital blindness but the most concern and highest cause of it is a genetic mutation. In general, 60 per cent of congenital blindness cases are contributed from prenatal stage and 40 per cent are contributed from inherited disease.

However, most of the congenital blindness cases show that it can be avoidable or preventable with early treatment.

Sean was born with a congenital blindness, losing his eyesight when he was 14 years old.

He began using his first guide dog two years later. 

Social media users were quick to give him heaps of sympathy, with BBC producer Holly Clemens tweeting: ‘Sean, I am so sorry! This is awful. I hope you are ok.’

Reporter Emily Unia wrote: ‘This is awful. Are you okay?’

Ned Donavon added: ‘Well done Sean. Hope you’re doing alright but fantastic work holding your ground and using those Section 3 powers.’

While GB News presenter Ellie Costello put: ‘Gosh Sean that’s so scary! I hope you’re okay! x.’

More than two million people are living with sight loss – with more than a quarter of a million of them 340,000 are registered as blind or partially sighted, according to the NHS. 

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