Professor Brian Cox's wife batters a burglar by punching him in the face

The wife of Professor Brian Cox fought off a burglar who broke into their south London home by punching him in the face. TV presenter Gia Milinovich hit the intruder so hard, she bruised some of her knuckles.

The 44-year-old recalled the moment she was woken late at night by a sound in the house. Gia's husband was away, and her five-year-old son was sleeping in the same room as her. At first she thought it may be her teenage son returning home.

Gia had taken self-defence boxing classes, similar to the one shown below and she quickly realised she had to do something fast.

Gia says she then phoned 999, gave police a description, and they soon tracked him down on CCTV.