A ROBBER who targeted a woman as she walked down an alleyway in Southampton was caught by group of men who gave chase after hearing the victim's cry for help.

Mark Hayward snatched the woman's bag from her shoulder as she walked down an alleyway in central Southampton.

But two men, one of whom was wearing flip-flops, gave chase as the 47-year-old attempted to run away.

With the help of a group of a builders, and residents who gave Hayward's hiding spot from their windows, the pair apprehended the robber.

On Friday, Hayward was jailed for more than two years by Judge Robert Pawson, who also awarded cash prizes to the two men who gave chase.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Hayward's victim was walking through the city on her lunch-break prior to the robbery.

Prosecutor Roderick Blaine said shortly after midday the woman walked through an alleyway, between the High Street and Castle Way.

He said: "As she turned out of the alleyway she felt a tug on her bag she was carrying over her right arm.

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"She turned to see the defendant running away with her bag.

"She shouted out because a man named Steve Chan, heard her. He sees the defendant get the bag and run back down the alleyway."

Mr Blaine said Mr Chan and another witness, Warren Holmes, gave chase and are eventually joined by a group of nearby builders.

The group lose track of Hayward, but are pointed in the right direction by residents watching the chase from their windows.

Mr Blaine said the Hayward is discovered hiding under a car, where he empties the bag of a purse, before making off again.

However he is quickly caught by the group, who apprehend him until police arrive.

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Mr Blaine said: "The handbag is recovered by the group while the purse is recovered from beneath the car which the defendant was hiding under."

He added that the victim was "very grateful" to the men who helped her, but had been left "shocked" by the incident.

In mitigation, Rob Griffiths said his client had, at the time, been in the grip of a Class-A drug addiction, but had been off drugs for the last three months.

He said: "He has taken very considerable steps to address his drug addiction, a root cause of his offending."

Mr Griffiths added: "He has apologised to the victim through me, and it was sincere."

In sentencing Hayward, who pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, Judge Robert Pawson said it would be a "dereliction of his duty" if he did not impose an immediate custodial sentence.

He said: "The impact on your victim should not be underestimated.

"She says she is now more anxious about the routes she takes.

"I can't suspend this sentence. It seems to it would be a dereliction of my public duty if I did."

Judge Pawson sentenced Hayward to two years and four months in prison.

He also granted High Sheriff Award prizes of £500 to Mr Chan and £250 to Mr Holmes, under the Criminal Law Act of 1826.