IT WAS 11am on November 1 when the door bell at the Hampshire post office rang.

Ada Warner, 60, emerged from her sitting room and instantly recognised one of the two customers as Michael McInnes, who had worked in the village.

“Can I help you?” the postmistress smiled at him.

“This gentleman wants to talk to you,” he explained.

The other man then told her: “I must produce my credentials to you.”

And with that, he began fumbling in his bag but he did not intend to produce any documents – the pair were there to rob her.

What happened next was the issue when the men stood trial at Hampshire Assizes.

Mrs Warner claimed McInnes threw a cloth over her head and mouth, pulling the cords so tight to render her more or less helpless and unable to make a noise.

But she wrenched herself free and ran off screaming, seeing McInnes empty the cash drawer that contained between £4 and £5. However, it was accepted that the raid caused such a commotion that it alerted neighbours who pursued the pair and caught them.

When police arrived at the scene at Holybourne near Alton they were able to identify the second man as Frank Kerr.

Exactly one month later, McInnes, 25 and a cook by trade, and Kerr, a 27-year-old clerk, appeared at Hampshire Assizes, charged with theft from Mrs Warner and using personal violence to her.

Prosecutor W Blake Odgers told jurors that when arrested, McInnes handed over £3 12s 6d, saying: “This is what I got.”

Kerr, who had £1 worth of silver on him, commented: “OK, boss. I hope we have not hurt the old lady too much.”

Giving evidence, McInnes admitted he had planned the raid after the pair had walked from Bedford to Southampton in the hope of finding work. Kerr had initially “tabooed” it but “in view of my vivid painting of the possible success of the scheme, he agreed”.

He then explained that Kerr was to distract Mrs Warner with one or two questions and she would walk back to her sitting room, after he had rifled the till.

McInnes, however, was adamant he had never put the cloth over her head and was only holding it to carry away the silver. Kerr gave evidence much along the same lines, insisting that although Mrs Warner screamed, they had not been violent to her. He also denied making the comment they hoped they had not hurt the old lady.

Jurors convicted them of theft but not with violence.

McInnes, who had two previous convictions, was jailed for nine months with hard labour. Kerr, who was of previous good character, was bound over.