Pregnant woman stops vandal spree on trip to toilet

Despite being eight months pregnant, Lesley Moonie, 31, from Bathgate, swung into action when she looked out the window on her way to the loo and spotted her neighbour’s Ferrari being vandalised.

She woke husband William who chased the vandal into a nearby estate while Lesley alerted her neighbour and “went a bit CSI” by collecting evidence including a beer bottle from the scene.

She then ignored police advice by jumping in the car and giving chase herself.

Their actions resulted in police catching vandal Martin Mckenzie, who was found to be responsible for a spree which saw more than 100 cars damaged.

Mckenzie, then 21, was eventually sentenced to eight months in jail.

Lesley, who lives in West Inch, described how her nosiness led her to spot the vandal.

She said: “It was early morning and I had got up to use the toilet.

“I was quite restless as I was heavily pregnant and, if I’m being honest, I am so nosey that I peeked out the blinds to see what was going on in the street.

“I saw the guy scratching cars across in my neighbour’s driveway, a Ferrari and a Fiat. Walking from one side to the other, scratching the cars from back to front and all the way around.

“I tried to phone my neighbour straight away and I woke my husband, who chased after them.

“Outside I saw that my own Mercedes was scratched. Most of the cars were nice cars, and I think there was an element of jealousy to it.”

She added: “I went a bit CSI, scooping up any evidence I thought could be useful in a Tesco plastic bag.

“The police did tell me to go back home but I knew if we lost the trail we might not have found them, so I followed in my car.

“They hid behind some wheelie bins in a taxi driver’s house, but he had heard them and called the police. I don’t think people should assume that somebody else is going to fix a situation like that, I believe it is good to face up to the issue and support the neighbourhood.”

Lesley and William, who now have a two-and-a-half-year-old son, R’ian, have been honoured with a National Police Public Bravery Award.

William, 41, said that he would do the same again if a similar scenario ever arose.

He said: “I didn’t even think about giving chase.

“I was quite calm, I think the adrenaline was going through my body. I’d do it again because I don’t believe you should look the other way.

“R’ian is quite outgoing and talkative, and I hope he grows up the same way.”

Superintendent Graham Jones, who presented them with the award for their actions in April 2009, said: “I am delighted to present this award as both Mr and Mrs Moonie put themselves at risk by following and confronting the suspect – particularly Mrs Moonie, who was heavily pregnant at the time.

“Without their quick response, the damaged cars might not have been discovered until the morning, and tracing the suspect might have proved very difficult, so we are very grateful for their intervention.”