AN off-duty firefighter who chased a serial handbag snatcher was commended for his bravery yesterday.

Ian Williams chased Mark Thomas Pain in his car after he saw him involved in an attempted robbery in January this year.

Pain, 21, of Elsmere Walk, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, and an unnamed accomplice were near the Stokesley Road shops, in Marton, on January 23 when they spotted Joanne Brereton walking along the road, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Tom Mitchell, prosecuting, told the court that Pain shouted to his accomplice "get it, get it," or "get her, get her".

The other man grabbed at Miss Brereton's handbag, he said, eventually dragging her along the ground on her back.

Mr Mitchell said Pain fled on a bicycle, but was seen by Ian Williams and his wife Kerry, of Marton, Middlesbrough, who were in their car.

They followed Pain before Mr Williams grabbed him and took him back to his victim before police arrived and arrested him.

Pain was due to stand trial on a charge of attempted robbery yesterday, but changed his plea to guilty.

Mr Mitchell said Pain had 16 previous convictions covering 65 offences, several of them for robbery.

Paul Newcombe, for Pain, said his client did not want to make his drug dependency an excuse for his behaviour and said he was remorseful.

Judge Michael Moorhouse said it was the duty of the court to ensure women walking the streets were safe from people like Pain and sentenced him to two years for the attempted robbery and ordered him to complete part of a previous sentence, making an additional 19 months.

The judge formally commended Mr Williams and ordered he be paid £400 from the public purse