A judge has praised the courage of a have-a-go hero who caught an armed robber and used his knife to stab the tyre of his getaway car.
Shop manager John Bradbury chased after a three strong gang after he saw them fleeing from a jewellery shop in white boiler suits and balaclavas.
He forced them to drop most of their loot and grabbed one of the men by his hoodie as he was about to get into a waiting getaway car.
He dragged robber Zico Rawlinson to the ground, grabbed his knife, and plunged it into the tyre of the Peugeot car in which the other two men were escaping.
They were forced to abandon the vehicle nearby but escaped and are still being sought by the police.
Rawlinson was jailed after Exeter Crown Court was told he agreed to take part in the raid on the House of Diamonds shop in Paignton, Devon, to pay off cannabis debts.
Mr Bradbury, aged 27, will now receive a commendation from the High Sherriff of Devon after he was recommended for the award by the judge.
Rawlinson, aged 22, of Fore Street, Barton, Torquay, admitted robbery and having an offensive weapon and was jailed for four years and eight months by Recorder Mr Jonathan Fuller, QC.
He told him:"There was an obvious degree of planning. You armed yourselves with two knives and an iron bar and targeted a jewellery shop.
"Mr Bradbury saw the build up and gave chase as you ran off. He grabbed you and swung you to the floor and as he did so you dropped a large knife.
"His actions did not stop there. He used the knife to slash the tyre of the car in which the other two men were driving off in an attempt to stop the getaway.
"I would like to recognise publicly the courage shown by Mr Bradbury who is to be commended for his courage and bravery. This will be brought to the attention of the High Sherriff of Devon."
Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said Rawlinson and two men who have not been traced went into the House of Diamonds in Paignton shortly before closing time on April 22.
They were all wearing white boiler suits and balaclavas and were armed with knives and a metal bar. They threatened assistant Shirley Jeffery and owner Alan Boydell, who was cut on the arm as he tried to fend them off with a chair.
The men fled after the panic alarm was sounded and dropped some of the jewellery on the way to the car but escaped with three gold and diamond rings worth a total of £4,449.
Mr Bradbury saw them going in and was suspicious because of their masks and chased them as they fled to a back alley where the car had been left running.
Rawlinson dropped a carving knife with a seven inch blade which Mr Bradbury grabbed and used to stab the tyre.
Rawlinson told police he was bullied into taking part in the raid by the other men, who he identified only as Jake and Josh to pay off a drug debt.
Mr Richings read a victim impact statement from Mr Boydell in which he says he is constantly worried about security at his shop and is so traumatised by the robbery he is considering selling the business.
Miss Anne Bellchambers, defending, said Rawlinson had been working on flood protection on the Somerset Levels and was forced to take part in the robbery.
She said he was always likely to be caught because he was the owner of the car which was used in the raid.
