A DISABLED man and his wife have spoken for the first time of their determination to confront a burglar who ransacked their house.

A judge publicly praised Darren and Viki Holliday and awarded them £250 each for apprehending serial burglar John Kirk.

Despite the fact that Mr Holliday is disabled and his wife is only 5ft 2in and weighs eight stone, 39-year-old Kirk proved no match for them when he was discovered rifling through their home in High Coniscliffe, near Darlington.

On Friday, Kirk, a known heroin addict, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to burglary, assault with intent to resist apprehension and possession of a fire- arm.

The Hollidays, who were aided by a mystery couple, last night recalled the incident that took place in the early evening of August 7, last year, when they came home to find their kitchen ransacked.

Mr Holliday said: "I just noticed the kitchen drawers on the floor and as I took half a step forward I noticed him come into the kitchen.

"He had a screwdriver in his hand. I thought to myself, 'you're not going to get out of my house without a fight', and we just gave chase."

Although Mr Holliday, 41, is medically retired following a motorcycle accident which left him with the use of only two fingers in one hand and needing to wear a brace, this did not deter him from taking on stockily-built Kirk.

"It didn't really go through my mind about the consequence," he added.

"I wasn't frightened, I just thought, 'you're not getting out of this'.

"My wife tackled him in the yard.

"She's only 5ft 2in and eight stone, but very spirited.

"There was a bit of a struggle, but he was no match against the two of us.

"This was the third burglary I've had and I think I've had my fair share. I wasn't having another one."

Once Mr and Mrs Holliday had apprehended Kirk, a couple walking a black labrador came to their aid and helped pin him down while Mrs Holliday, 29, went to call the police.

Mrs Holliday said: "I would really like to thank them. I never got a chance to thank them properly.

"It's not every day a member of the public comes to your aid like that. We really appreciated their help."

As for the sentence, she said: "I'm pleased that he's going to be in prison for a few years - that's the best way it could have happened.

"That way he can't pester anybody else."