A NEWENT man who bravely chased a drugged up burglar who threatened him with a hypodermic syringe has been recommended for a £250 reward by a Gloucester judge.

The Recorder of Gloucester, Judge Jamie Tabor QC, said Owen Chandler had acted with great courage in bringing Matthew Goodchild to justice.

Goodchild, 37, of Lightfoot, Newent, was jailed for 21 months last week after he admitted affray, burglary and breach of a previous suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Alex Small said that at lunchtime on November 27 last year Mr Chandler was walking near Culver Street, Newent, when he saw Goodchild, who appeared to be walking in a ’drug induced stupor’

"Twenty seconds later he heard someone shouting ’Help, help, they’ve been in my house.’

"He saw an old lady with a walking frame who was in distress coming out of a bungalow.

"She was Mrs Ann Martin, whose home had just been burgled by the defendant. He had gone in looking for her son, Aidan, whom he knew, and had taken property from Aidan’s bedroom."

Mr Small said Mr Chandler went after Goodchild and found him nearby.

"He called out ’stop thief’ and shouted to other people to help him. The defendant said ’I haven’t done anything.’

Judge Tabor said: "I shall commend Mr Chandler to the High Sheriff for his courage in chasing and tackling you and I shall ask her to award him £250."