A JUDGE has ordered a £250 reward for plucky Lydney pensioner Brian Betterton who bravely told knife-wielding robber Gareth Worth to 'p**s off!'

The 67-year-old was working behind the counter at the Little Pound Shop in Lydney, when hoodie-wearing Worth walked in and demanded £20 from the till.

Even though Worth was holding up a knife he had earlier stolen from the shop, Mr Betterton gave him short shrift.

When told to 'p*** off', Worth said 'I'm not joking' – to which Mr Betterton replied 'Neither am I' and grabbed him by the arm.

Heroin addict Worth, 19, managed to slip free and escape but Mr Betterton promptly called police and the teenager was arrested soon afterwards.

Worth, of The Gateway, Lydney, denied attempting to rob Mr Betterton on August 2 last year and claimed it was not him.

But yesterday the jury convicted him. Judge Jamie Tabor QC adjourned sentence for two months to see if Worth could successfully tackle his drug addiction while in custody on remand.

Judge Tabor said if he gets a good report on Worth from the jail, confirming that he is striving to get clean, he will receive a much shorter sentence than the three to four years recommended.

"I am recommending Mr Betterton for a Sheriff's reward of £250 for the courage he showed in resisting this defendant's robbery," said the judge.

"He was extremely brave and his prompt ringing up of the police led to this young man being correctly identified, arrested, charged and convicted.

"I hope the High Sheriff will take as much pleasure as I do in saying 'well done.'"

Prosecutor Derek Ryder had told the jury that the would-be robber was wearing a light grey sweatshirt with hoodie pulled over his head, a dark scarf across his face and dark jogging bottoms.

Identical garments were found in Worth's room together with the packaging for a knife he had stolen earlier from the same shop.