By Phil Vinter PUBLISHED: 11:56 EST, 10 September 2012 | UPDATED: 13:02 EST, 10 September 2012 Mark Chesney broke into Darren McGirr's home in November last year A brave homeowner hit a late night intruder over the head with a hammer as he faced 'every householder’s worst nightmare'. Darren McGirr, from Stockton, in Teeside, took the extreme measure to defend his property when burglar Mark Chesney threatened to stab him with a knife. After confronting the Chesney in the hallway, fast-thinking Mr McGirr managed to apprehend the intruder and hold him at the property until the police arrived. Teeside Crown Court had heard that Mr McGirr's girlfriend Kirsty Lowery screamed as she was awoken by a noise in the early hours of November 9 last year.
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Burglar Mark Chesney had threatened to stab Darren McGirr with a knife
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McGirr and his girlfriend struggled to hold Chesney at the property until police arrived
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