Boxing OAP batters knife-throwing burglar
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A burglar was left battered and bruised by an elderly man after brandishing a knife in the pensioner's home.
Former boxer Frank Corti, 72, said he was compelled to defend himself and his wife after Gregory McCalium threatened them at their Oxfordshire home.
McCalium, 24, confronted the elderly couple after a row over noise levels between the neighbours on Queens Close, Botley, Oxford.
Oxford Crown Court heard McCalium was drunk after attending an all-night party when he forced his way into Mr Corti's home at 8am on 19 August last year.
McCalium, a cocktail barman, threw the knife towards Mr Corti but the former Royal Engineer dodged the blade and punched him to the face twice.
The younger man, who was found guilty of aggravated burglary after a trial, was given a black eye and a bloodied lip before being restrained.
Detective Constable Jon Shaw of Thames Valley Police said: "The elderly man, who at the time was at home with his wife, was able to subdue the man until the police arrived.
"Fortunately no one was more injured in this incident but this was still a terrifying situation and McCalium must now pay for his actions.
"I hope that the victim, and his wife, might now be able to put this ordeal behind them and get on with their lives."
McCalium was sentenced to four-and-a-half year's imprisonment by Oxford Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Corti told the Oxford Mail: "We are very pleased because our life was severely disrupted by the incident and we are pleased he won't be troubling us for a few years.
"I had to restrain him before he could go and get the knife. I was scared when he first threw the knife, but most people would have acted in the same way.
"If you can't defend what's yours, where are we at?"
Mr Corti, whose wife Margaret was also home at the time of the attack, received only minor injuries.
An order was made for the knife used by McCalium to be destroyed.