Judge praises man who took photo of thug who mugged woman, 73, in Leicester for £25

A hero driver praised by a judge for taking a photo of a robber who mugged a pensioner – helping police catch him – has said he would do it again.

The 32-year-old communications manager, who works in Leicester, was passing the scene and realised what had happened, so followed thug Reuben Drury in his car.

He saw Drury discarding his 73-year-old woman victim's trolley, handbag and house keys.

He retrieved them and drove after Drury to take his picture, before handing the items over to police.

SUNDAY OPEN BUFFET EAT AS MUCH AS U CAN £6.99PP & A LA CARTE...

Leicester's ONLY Lebanese Cuisine - Cedars Bar & Restaurant 46/48 Church Gate Leicester LE1 4AJ

View details

Print voucher

Come & Try our Delicious Menu with an Amazing 15% off all Food Bills on a la carte menu only

Terms: Lebanese & Mediterenian Menu With An Amazing 15% Off Your Food Bills on a la carte menu only

Contact: 0116 2169184

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

The hero, who did not want to be named, said: "I would do it again, I wouldn't like the thought of this happening to anyone – my grandmother or my wife who is eight months pregnant.

"It was a heartless thing for him to do, it could have stopped the lady wanting to go out again."

The 73-year-old victim was knocked to the ground during the robbery, which happened in St Nicholas Circle, in the city centre, on September 16.

She was planning to go shopping before meeting friends to celebrate her birthday when Drury grabbed her red shopping trolley.

The driver followed Drury from the scene into Vaughan Way.

He said: "I saw the guy coming towards me. He looked suspicious because he had an old lady's trolley bag and a cream-coloured handbag – he just looked out of place.

"I took a left turn and saw an old lady lying on the ground with her arms up in the air. It looked like she had just been mugged.

"What I had seen clicked immediately and I decided to go after him. He discarded some of the stuff in Holy Bones and started walking away calmly, thinking no-one had spotted him.

"I picked up the lady's stuff and put it in my car, then I drove up alongside him and asked him where the Clock Tower was. He wouldn't look down at me. Then I just said, 'You robbed the old lady'.

"He bent over towards the passenger window to deny it and as he did that I took a picture of him on my mobile phone.

"When he realised what I had done he ran away."

The driver took the victim's belongings to a city police station and e-mailed detectives the picture he had taken.

Drury (22) was wearing a distinctive jacket, which helped police identify him.

At Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Ebraham Mooncey, jailed Drury, of no fixed address, for three years.

He commended the public-spirited motorist and awarded him £300 from public funds.

The hero said: "To be honest, I wasn't expecting to be given any money for doing this kind of thing – I didn't do it for reward.

"I think the sentence he got is justified and hopefully it will stop someone else doing something like this."