A courageous "have a go" hero who wrestled a handbag back from a mugger was praised by a crown court judge.

Judge Julian Hall recommended that Benjamin Tucker was awarded a High Sheriff's Award of £250 after he chased and tackled 44-year-old Elvis Springer, a serial criminal who robbed a woman walking back from Oxford train station in October last year.

Mr Tucker, 22, formerly of Oxford but now living in Swiss Cottage, North London, has also been nominated for a police award for his actions.

Judge Hall told Oxford Crown Court that Mr Tucker had behaved with "complete, if instinctive, courage".

He added: "When one has the increasing feeling that people are being discouraged from having a go, he had a go and with great success."

The court heard today that Springer, who was on a bike, grabbed 30-year-old Priyanka Sharma's handbag as she walked down Roger Dudman Way at 8.30pm on October 8.

As he turned round in the road, she tried to get her bag back from him and the pair fell to the floor, before Springer cycled off with her bag.

Prosecutor Jane Brady said Mr Tucker saw Springer escaping, gave chase and caught up with him near traffic lights in Park End Street.

Her grabbed the handbag back from Springer, who then hit him over the head with his bike's D-lock and peddled away.

Springer, of Clarke's Row, Oxford, was arrested on October 11 and denied being involved in a robbery.

But Mrs Brady said he was picked out by Mr Tucker in an identity parade and when he appeared in court, admitted one count of robbery and another of assault with intent to rob.

Rachel Drake, defending Springer, who served a 14-year sentence for armed robbery, said he had been suffering from depression and a personality disorder, for which he was receiving treatment at Marlborough House in Buckinghamshire.

She said he had been in jail and mental health centres for so long he was "effectively institutionalised" and found it very difficult to be at liberty.

She added: "The assault, while disgraceful, was, in my submission, the actions of a panic.

"He didn't set out to use violence no matter what on this day."

Judge Hall told Springer he was jailing him for 20 months for the protection of the public.

He told him: "I think it would be perverse of me to say that you wouldn't be a danger to the public in the future and I find that you would be and will be."

Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer Dc Jerry Holford, of Oxford CID, said: "Springer is a nasty and prolific offender who has numerous previous convictions, including robbery and violence.

"In this case, he purposefully targeted a lone woman in a secluded side street and without the courage displayed by Mr Tucker, the prospect of him committing further robberies would have been very real.

"Mr Tucker showed disregard for his own safety in tackling a much larger man and due to his brave actions we were able to identify and quickly arrest Springer, who is now back in prison largely thanks to him."

Mr Tucker was unavailable for comment.