ByJennifer Lipman, Jennifer Lipman
A father-of-two was left "battered and bruised" after fighting off would-be car thieves.
Posing as buyers for the BMW Golders Green businessman Jonathan Marriott was trying to sell online, two men attacked him, spraying a pepper-like substance in his face.
"One of them put his hand over my face and tried to push me, but I resisted" said Mr Marriott, 40.
"They pulled my glasses off and sprayed me. I carried on fighting and ended up biting one of them on the thumb and tearing his clothes. Then they ran off.
"It all happened very quickly, I was fighting on instinct. I just felt it was my space and they couldn't tell me what to do.
Hatzola were on the scene immediately - they were amazing
"People always say I'm determined but this surprised them."
After the men took flight, Mr Marriott called his neighbours for help and was given first-aid by a Hatzolah team.
"They were on the scene immediately - they were amazing," he said.
Mr Marriott was taken to hospital for treatment for burning pains on his hands caused by the spray.
The would-be robbers were in their mid-to-late twenties. They had told Mr Marriott that they were from Lithuania.
The incident is being investigated by Barnet police, who said it was "quite unusual" for a victim to fight off thieves.
"In that situation, people are stunned and the thieves have every advantage. You've got to give him credit."
Mr Marriott said he would be unlikely to sell another car online.