A FARMER has been praised for helping to catch a robber who ambushed two teenagers and stole their bicycles.

Richard Frank came to the aid of the boys after Leigh Green and an accomplice jumped from bushes on a country lane and took their bikes.

A court heard yesterday how the friends ran to the farm to report the robberies and Mr Frank helped to look for the culprits in his jeep.

Green and his associate - who has not been traced - were seen parked on a track, with the bikes in their Ford Orion.

Patricia Mancina, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that Green sped away, but then turned around and drove his car at the farmer's vehicle.

Mr Frank forced the Orion back towards the farm and, once he had blocked the track, the thieves jumped from the car and ran away.

The farmer chased and caught Green, but the other man escaped and the 24-year-old refused to give police his name.

Green, of Hubbard Walk, Middlesbrough, told police he had been driving in the country lane on Teesside when he saw the boys and planned the ambush.

Paul Cleasby, defending, said: "On this occasion, he acted foolishly. He was short of money, they were driving near Kirklevington and a spur-of-the-moment decision was made to deprive this young man of his bike."

Judge George Moorhouse jailed Green for a total of 23 months after he admitted robbery and causing criminal damage to the farmer's vehicle.

The judge also ordered that the Orion be confiscated and £200 compensation be paid to Mr Frank.