A brave householder who chased and collared a burglar has been given a £200 reward by a judge.

John Durkan ran after 29-year-old Jason Whitson when his girlfriend spotted him climbing out of a downstairs window at their home in Copley Street, Little Horton, Bradford.

Prosecutor Andrew Semple told Bradford Crown Court how Mr Durkan kept Whitson in his sight throughout the chase and eventually grabbed him by the shoulders.

Mr Semple said Whitson began to lash out with his arms and legs and in the struggle Mr Durkan was struck on the right cheekbone causing bruising.

"He managed to hold onto him," said Mr Semple. "He put him to the ground and restrained him."

When police officers arrived Whitson claimed he had been walking along the road when he had been jumped on by Mr Durkan.

He denied being involved in the burglary but forensic officers found a shoe-print at the scene which matched Whitson's trainers.

Whitson, of Union House Lane, Clayton Heights, Bradford, admitted the burglary offence and also a charge of assaulting Mr Durkan with intent to resist arrest.

The court heard Whitson had a record of 46 previous convictions which included violence offences.

Jailing him for 27 months, Judge Roger Scott branded Whitson a drunken thief and described a probation order he was under at the time of the offence 'a complete wash-out'.

Whitson's lawyer Lesley Dickinson said he had agreed to help another man commit the burglary after he got into debt.

She noted they had targeted an unoccupied property but Judge Scott said it was one of the difficulties of such offences that householders had a habit of coming back.

"I'm afraid that if you run away and then assault the man who is only doing his public duty you must expect a consecutive sentence for that assault", he told Whitson.

He jailed him for two years on the burglary charge and added a further three months for the assault.

Judge Scott added Mr Durkan did not have to run after Whitson and said he should be rewarded with £200 from public funds for his public-spirited attitude.

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