A BRAVE lorry driver who held on to an escaping shop thief, although he was bitten and repeatedly spat at, has been awarded £200 by a judge.

Kevin McCreath detained Tyrone Kerr as he fled with a jar of coffee stolen from a Wibsey convenience store, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Mr McCreath stopped his lorry and ran to help when he saw Kerr, 22, legging it with a bag while being pursued by a female member of staff.

Kerr, of Bessingham Gardens, Buttershaw, Bradford, pleaded guilty to theft and to causing Mr McCreath actual bodily harm on April 27.

Prosecutor Andrew Horton said Kerr repeatedly spat at 49-year-old Mr McCreath, pulled his hair and told him he had AIDS. He threw stones and dust at him before biting him on the arm.

Mr McCreath continued to hang on to the violently struggling Kerr until the police arrived to arrest him.

Mr Horton applied for a five year Criminal Behaviour Order (CRIMBO) that prevents Kerr from going into shops wearing a hood or hat, entering any premises he is barred from and remaining on any premises when asked to leave.

Judge Jonathan Rose made an interim CRIMBO while jailing Kerr for 28 months.

Judge Rose said Kerr was a thief with a propensity to violence, using his teeth as his weapon of choice.

His extensive criminal record included attempting to punch and bite two members of the public helping the police detain him after he was caught stealing from the Co-op in Fair Road, Bradford, in November last year.

In August last year, Kerr entered Buttershaw Convenience Store in a hooded top. He punched a staff member up to four times in the head when he tried to stop him stealing from the shop.

Also last August, Kerr hit a member of the public with a bottle of Prosecco he was attempting to make off with and then bit him twice.

Kerr’s barrister, Abigail Langford, said he led a chaotic lifestyle and had long standing problems with drugs and alcohol, dating from his early teens.

He was now in much better health and seeking treatment for his addictions while in custody.

Judge Rose said Kerr resorted to appalling violence to try to stop Mr McCreath detaining him for stealing a jar of coffee worth £13.

He stole from the shop just three weeks after being released from custody for his last offence.

Judge Rose praised Mr McCreath for hanging out to Kerr while suffering a disgusting attack from him.

“He held on, despite repeated violence, and detained him,” he said.

Judge Rose commended Mr McCreath for his courage and awarded him £200 from public funds.