A SOUL singing pensioner has spoken about how he fought off three carjackers in a car park using a pack of spanners he had just bought.

Stephen Smith - who is better known by his on-stage persona Leo Kenny and once toured with Billy Ocean - had paid a visit to the B&Q hardware store in Thornbury to buy a set of adjustable spanners to fix his bathroom basin.

As he was getting back into his car, he described how he was pounced upon by a group of young men who tried to drag him out of his car and take his keys.

The 70-year-old, of Eccleshill, said: “I walked to my car and got in.

“As I was closing the door I was suddenly wrenched out of my hand.

“At first I thought it was a security guard who might have thought I had taken the spanners without paying, because I was just carrying them in my hand.

“I looked up and saw a young guy with a scarf across his face who tried to drag me out of the car.”

Despite the terrifying moment when he realised he was the victim of an attempted carjacking Mr Smith didn’t panic. Instead, he used the nearest thing to hand – his packet of adjustable spanners.

He explained: “I managed to fight him off, I think I punched him and shut the door, but another guy had jumped in the passenger seat and tried to reach and grab my keys out of my hand.

“That’s when it dawned on me I still had the spanners in my hand, so I whacked him on the hand and then on the arm, and then I hit him in the chest and he shot out of the door.

“I put the central locking on and drove away which is when I realised they were trying to steal my car.”

Ironically, Mr Smith said the car didn’t actually belong to him, the Seat Leon was a courtesy car as his own car was in for repairs after he slid and crashed into a lamppost in the snow last month.

But as the local entertainment legend said: “They probably thought, old man, nice car, easy pickings, but they picked the wrong car.

“I would say they were teenagers, probably about 16 or 17. It happened at about 2pm on Tuesday. The third one was standing at the front of the car egging the other two on.

“I was shaken up but they didn’t frighten me. I got to Gain Lane and then stopped and called the police, and that was when it hit me and I started to shake.

“I’m quite fit for my age, if it was someone less capable than myself they wouldn’t have stood a chance, they would have been dragged out and had their car stolen.”

Detective Inspector Ryan Bragg, of Bradford District CID, said: “The area where this occurred is a popular place for shoppers and we believe there will have been people who saw what happened, or who saw the suspects running from the scene.

“We would similarly appeal to anyone with footage of the incident or the suspects which they may have on their phones or dash cams.

“All three suspects were of skinny build, believed to be in their mid to late teens and were wearing dark clothing. Two of them are described as Asian males.

“It is also possible one of them may have injuries after being struck with the spanners."

Despite the ugly incident Mr Smith says he has no intention of shunning his favourite DIY store in future.

“I’m not the kind of person who is just going to hand over their keys, and it won’t stop me using that store,” he said defiantly.

“They were built like matchsticks, I doubt any of them were over eight stone, but having said that you don’t know what they might be carrying, a dagger or acid or anything.

“Police told me it’s not unusual for this kind of thing to happen at that car park and the other car parks nearby in the area, and other people have told me similar things have happened to them or members of the family or friends in recent months.

“It is definitely going to make me look around before I get in my car, and lock the doors straight away as soon as I get in, and if it makes other people do the same and keeps people safe then that’s a good lesson learned.

“But, to make matters worse, when I got home I realised the spanners were still the wrong size!”

Mr Smith, a former bus driver, has enjoyed a long career as a singer, touring with 1980s pop legend Billy Ocean and supporting acts such as Judge Dread and Desmond Dekker.

During his long singing career, Mr Smith has won seven major clubland awards, starting out on the northern dance circuit fronting The Citation Soul Band and specialising in Motown and soul music.

He then moved to Gibraltar in the 70s, performing at clubs and bars and hosting radio shows, before heading to London working as a session singer with a range of big and independent record labels.

Police said inquiries are continuing and anyone who can assist this investigation is asked to call Bradford District CID on 101, quoting crime reference 13180156643.

Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.