Warning over pensioners mugged with ‘lion killer’ jiu-jitsu move in Benidorm

Police in Benidorm have arrested two men they caught robbing a British pensioner by using a martial art stranglehold.

Undercover cops nabbed the pair after seeing them assaulting the pensioner in broad daylight in the famous Costa Blanca resort and trying to leave him unconscious with the popular choke used in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Violent street muggers are increasingly using the technique, which in Brazil is known as Mata leao, ‘lion killer’ in English, to incapacitate their victims.

A spokesman for the National Police at the force’s provincial HQ in Alicante said: ‘Officers have arrested two men in Benidorm who were caught as they committed a violent robbery in broad daylight in a busy central street.

‘The officers were carrying out routine undercover patrol work and saw the two detainees pulling and hitting an elderly British man.

‘The assault continued with them grabbing their victim round the neck and using the martial arts Mata leao chokehold to try to leave him unconscious so they could rob him.

The pensioner suffered a cut to head when the two men dropped him after seeing the police. The two muggers were arrested near the scene and police recovered the man’s wallet.

They added: ‘He was taken to a medical centre to receive treatment. The men arrested are Spaniards aged 47 and 48 who have been arrested before for similar offences.

‘They have been handed over to the judiciary ahead of their court appearance.’

It was not immediately clear today if they have already appeared before a judge and whether they have been remanded in custody or released on bail.

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