A MAN aged 62 who tackled a drugged raider who was armed with an eight-inch knife has been rewarded for his bravery.

Michael Bettley was praised for his "courage and public-spiritedness" by Judge Gavin Barr Young at York Crown Court yesterday as drug addict Philip Noble, 21, was jailed for 23 months. The judge ordered that Mr Bettley should receive a £150 reward.

Mr Bettley stepped into action last June as Noble fled from Moss Chemist's, in Clifton, with 18 boxes of diazepam, and police officers in pursuit.

Mr Bettley, who had just finished work, blocked his path and stopped the burglar in his tracks. The court was told that the pair ended up over the bonnet of a car.

Noble struggled and told his captor "he was going to do him and he was dead".

When police caught and searched Noble, they discovered he was carrying an eight-inch kitchen knife. Mr Bettley said after the court case he was shaken by the discovery of the knife - but would do it all again if the police needed his help. He said: "I saw three figures running down the road and two were policemen.

"One of them called out 'stop him' so I just stepped in front of him - he either had to go round me or through me and it slowed him down enough for the police to catch him. I just didn't have time to think."

Noble, of Kingsway North, Clifton, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court to burglary, possession of a bladed weapon, and a public order offence.

The court heard that police were checking the premises when Noble hurled a fire extinguisher through the shop window and ran off.

David Bradshaw, mitigating, said: "He was heavily medicated at the time he committed the offence."

He had raided the chemist because he had a drug habit and appealed to the judge to give him a sentence that would let him have his liberty and receive drug treatment.

Mr Bettley said afterwards that he was pleased Noble had been jailed but said: "I don't think the sentence is enough, that's just my opinion. But I still think I would do it again, the police had no chance of catching him - I was their only chance."

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, September 01, 2001