Paul Whitehouse Fights Off Mugger at Islington Cashpoint While Buying Medication
Comedian Paul Whitehouse thwarted a mugger who attempted to steal his bank card at an Islington cashpoint on Friday night. The 68-year-old entertainer was running an errand to purchase medication for his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, following a bad reaction to medical treatment when he was targeted behind the Sainsbury’s Local on Essex Road.
Dr Conkbayir detailed the incident on Instagram, stating that her husband fought back during the confrontation and successfully retrieved his bank card. The assailant fled the scene empty-handed. Whitehouse returned home frustrated after subsequently taking their daughter to football practice, choosing not to make a public fuss initially out of respect for the situation before agreeing to share the warning.
Wife Urges Public Vigilance After Islington Attack
Dr Conkbayir shared details of the encounter online to encourage public awareness. She wrote that the incident made for a horrid start to the weekend after she felt unwell from her treatment. “I kept shtum, out of respect, but he just came over, having taken our daughter to our football, still frustrated,” she stated on Instagram. She added a call for the public to remain super vigilant when out and about.
🚨📰 Actor and ComedianPaul WhiteHouse mugged at cashpoint in LondonWhitehouse was fetching medicine for his wife at the time of the mugging The mugging occurred at a Cashpoint on Essex Road in Islington. pic.twitter.com/EmvumRgfuH
Fellow entertainers responded to the post with support and concern. Actor Colin McFarlane commented that he lived around the corner and knew the specific cashpoint well, noting that muggings leave victims vulnerable and uncertain of their physical safety. Reece Shearsmith and Ghosts actor Jim Howick also sent messages wishing Whitehouse well following the ordeal.
The episode draws fresh attention to street safety in the capital. Earlier this year, London Mayor Sadiq Khan addressed public concerns regarding urban crime, pointing to police investments aimed at driving down personal robbery and phone snatching statistics across the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the incident take place?
The attempted robbery occurred at a cashpoint located behind the Sainsbury’s Local on Essex Road in Islington, London.
What was Paul Whitehouse doing at the cashpoint?
He was out running an errand on Friday night to pick up medication for his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, after she experienced a bad reaction to medical treatment.
Did the suspect manage to steal anything?
No. Whitehouse fought back during the confrontation, successfully retrieved his bank card, and the perpetrator fled empty-handed.
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