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| Jeff Rochford from Stockton. Click to enlarge. |
Reformed Stockton offender hailed a hero after saving woman's life while on window cleaning round: Jeff Rochford raised alarm when he thought 78-year-old June Hoyle looked unwell. His fears were confirmed as she was having a stroke.
A reformed prolific Teesside offender has been hailed a hero after he saved a woman’s life while on his window cleaning round. Jeff Rochford raised the alarm after he noticed 78-year-old June Hoyle was looking unwell. The dad-of-three called for an ambulance and his fears were confirmed when he was later told Mrs Hoyle was having a stroke. She was taken to hospital where she remains, receiving treatment. Her son Dennis said he is “entirely grateful” to Mr Rochford. He said: “He saved my mum’s life. I don’t care about his past. What he did was fantastic and the whole family is grateful.”
Mr Rochford, of Darlington Lane, Stockton, has 80 convictions on his record and received his first caution when he was eight for stealing a motorbike. Since then he was been convicted of a number of different offences including burglary and theft. But the 36-year-old has now turned his back on his criminal past and is training to become a mentor to help other offenders say goodbye to crime. He also now runs his own window cleaning business.
It was on Monday morning when he went to Mrs Hoyle’s’ home to clean her windows in Stockton and noticed she looked unwell. He said: “She wasn’t her usual lively self and then I saw that her face had dropped a bit. I was concerned so I called for an ambulance. “I waited until they arrived and then her son came round that night to tell me she had had a stroke and thanked me.”
Mr Hoyle said his mum is still being treated in hospital. He said: “Everyone knows that the longer you leave a stroke the worse it gets. “Jeff’s actions made sure mum got to hospital quickly. God knows how long it would have been if he had not been there.”
As well as window cleaning, Mr Rochford is also studying to become a peer mentor for offenders. He said: “I have already got my diploma in peer mentoring for level one and two. “I want to get into offender management and work with offenders to help them turn their lives around like I have. “I make no secret of my past. I was a prolific offender and have been in prison. “But it is my past now and I will never go back. “It was an awful life to lead. My life was chaotic and at times I felt there was no way out. I felt like I was stuck in a hole. “I am determined to help other people change too.”
It was on Monday morning when he went to Mrs Hoyle’s’ home to clean her windows in Stockton and noticed she looked unwell. He said: “She wasn’t her usual lively self and then I saw that her face had dropped a bit. I was concerned so I called for an ambulance. “I waited until they arrived and then her son came round that night to tell me she had had a stroke and thanked me.”
Mr Hoyle said his mum is still being treated in hospital. He said: “Everyone knows that the longer you leave a stroke the worse it gets. “Jeff’s actions made sure mum got to hospital quickly. God knows how long it would have been if he had not been there.”
As well as window cleaning, Mr Rochford is also studying to become a peer mentor for offenders. He said: “I have already got my diploma in peer mentoring for level one and two. “I want to get into offender management and work with offenders to help them turn their lives around like I have. “I make no secret of my past. I was a prolific offender and have been in prison. “But it is my past now and I will never go back. “It was an awful life to lead. My life was chaotic and at times I felt there was no way out. I felt like I was stuck in a hole. “I am determined to help other people change too.”
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Ex-con turned window cleaner saves elderly woman's life: A reformed burglar has been hailed a hero after saving the life of an elderly woman while on his window cleaning round. Jeff Rochford, 36, who has 80 convictions on a criminal record that began at the age of eight, spotted 78-year-old June Hoyle through the window as he set to work at her home.
Jeff noticed that she looked unwell and that her face had dropped slightly on one side and realised she was showing symptoms of a stroke so dialled 999 on his mobile phone. His quick-thinking saved Mrs Hoyle's life as it was later confirmed in hospital that his suspicions were correct and she had been having a stroke.
Jeff, who saved Mrs Hoyle at her Stockton-on-Tees home on Monday morning, said: "I'm really glad that she's doing well in hospital and getting the care she needs. "She wasn't her usual lively self and then I saw her face had dropped a bit I was concerned so I called for an ambulance. I waited until they arrived and then her son came round that night to tell me she had had a stroke and thank me."
He is determined to put his criminal past behind him and wants to help others. Mr Rochford said: "I don't make any secret about my past, I was a prolific offender and I have been in prison. But that's my past now and I will never go back to it. "It was an awful life to lead my life was totally chaotic and at times it seemed as though there was no way out of it for me. "Now I am determined to help other people change too and I want to become a mentor for offenders to help them out of that life."
Jeff noticed that she looked unwell and that her face had dropped slightly on one side and realised she was showing symptoms of a stroke so dialled 999 on his mobile phone. His quick-thinking saved Mrs Hoyle's life as it was later confirmed in hospital that his suspicions were correct and she had been having a stroke.
Jeff, who saved Mrs Hoyle at her Stockton-on-Tees home on Monday morning, said: "I'm really glad that she's doing well in hospital and getting the care she needs. "She wasn't her usual lively self and then I saw her face had dropped a bit I was concerned so I called for an ambulance. I waited until they arrived and then her son came round that night to tell me she had had a stroke and thank me."
He is determined to put his criminal past behind him and wants to help others. Mr Rochford said: "I don't make any secret about my past, I was a prolific offender and I have been in prison. But that's my past now and I will never go back to it. "It was an awful life to lead my life was totally chaotic and at times it seemed as though there was no way out of it for me. "Now I am determined to help other people change too and I want to become a mentor for offenders to help them out of that life."
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