Intruder meets woman experienced in medieval combat while allegedly breaking

An Indianapolis woman is being hailed for her quick presence of mind and bravery after she single-handedly managed to fight an intruder and kept him subdued till help arrived.

Dolley, 43, woke up from the sound of the alleged burglar, 30-year-old Jacob Wessel, and went to her living room to investigate – upon noticing him, she attacked and landed almost 10 punches and kicks, according to The Indianapolis Star.

“I could see the guy standing right about here and I just came out of the bathroom and started punching get out, get out, get out”, says Dolley.

Dolley – recently recruited into roller derby – trained in the art of medieval combat for 20 years as a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group that recreates medieval skills and crafts.

She held the crouching man at sword-point until police arrived two minutes after her 911 call, the Star said.

Wessel who apologised to her as he was led away by police, was taken initially to hospital as he appeared to be on drugs.

Dolley woke up in the middle of the night to find Wessel attempting to rob her house.

“I didn’t think I was getting good blows in but my knuckles are bruised today”. “Hitting someone like that, it isn’t like the movies”. That’s where she would engage in unchoreographed fights against men.

She told the Star that early on, her opponents were able to guess what her moves would be because she was too tentative, for fear of hurting them.

When Dolley called police, she said she was in control of the situation, but there was a brief scare when the intruder reached his hand into a pocket. She applied more pressure with her sword and told him to stop. “I know I could do it, but I don’t want to do that”.

Another part of Dolley’s armor is the strength and confidence she has gained through her time as a Naptown Roller Girl.