A man who helped to catch one of Britain's worst paedophiles was among those presented with awards by the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire.

The presentations were made to people recommended for an award under the Criminal Law Act 1826 by the judge in the cases in which they were involved. The High Sheriff, Patrick Dent, presented the awards at the ceremony at Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

When Neil Walls saw sex monster Glynn Kenyon's photograph on the BBC's Crimewatch programme he recognised him as his neighbour and contacted police. This led to Kenyon, who was working as a market trader on Bonny Street Market in Blackpool at the time, being found guilty of 43 charges of rape, wounding and other offences against young girls at Bradford Crown Court.

In a separate trial Kenyon, formerly of Holme Wood, Bradford, was also convicted of attempted murder and is now serving a total of 17 life sentences. Mr Walls, of Blackpool, received a £750 award from the crown court judge for his part in bringing Kenyon to justice.

Mr Walls said: "I lived in the flat above him. When I saw him on Crimewatch I was shocked and called police. But when they came he wasn't there but later that night I saw him going out. I told police and they went to catch him."

An off-duty police officer who helped a teenager who was being robbed at gunpoint was also honoured. Detective Constable Glenn Acornley had just left work at Bradford Central Police Station when he saw a youth threaten the teenager and go through his pockets.

Det Con Acornley took hold of the youth with the help of another officer and walked him to the police station. He realised he was armed and had threatened the teenager with a gun. The youth also had a controlled substance in his possession. He was charged with attempted robbery and having an imitation firearm with intent and was sentenced to a total of two years in a young offenders institute.

The owner of Bradford restaurant Brass was awarded for helping to catch a youth who stole a handbag from a woman. Dean Loynes chased the youth from Caf Bleu in North Parade up to Westgate in January last year. Mr Loynes, a former rugby player, caught the youth and held him until police arrived. The youth was sentenced to 21 months in a young offenders institute.

Mr Loynes, 53, said: "He thought he'd shaken me off but I kept following him. A passing motorist stopped and we put the youth in the car and brought him back to Caf Bleu."

Gerald Gallagher, of Bradford, received an award for helping police catch a man who robbed and assaulted a woman. Mr Gallagher said: "I'm a youth worker and I saw a man being chased by some youths who I recognised. I thought they were mugging him but it turned out he'd mugged someone else and they were trying to catch him. The man got four-and-a-half years for robbery."

Tariq Saleem was minding a shop for a friend when a youth came in pointing a gun and demanding money. Mr Saleem chased the man and sat on him until police came. "This is a proud day," he said.

Matthew Jones, 25, was a customer in the shop, Greenside Newsagents in Huddersfield, when he helped Mr Saleem to chase the man.

Stephen Wakelind, of Bradford, apprehended a youth who tried to steal his neighbours van. He chased him and with another neighbours' help held him until police arrived. The youth was charged with theft, interfering with a vehicle and failing to surrender.

Also awarded was Nathan Featherstone, of Heckmondwike, who detained a man who had snatched an elderly woman's purse. The man was charged with robbery.

Charles Holdsworth, of Ilkley, stopped a thief from leaving a bookstore. When he and his wife saw the man putting books in his jacket they stopped him leaving by closing the door. The man was charged with theft.

High Sheriff Mr Dent told the recipients: "It's easy to turn a blind eye, your courage and bravery to apprehend someone perpetrating evil is something to be proud of.