A PAINTER and decorator says he chased down a thief who had snatched a pensioner’s money because “he wasn’t going to stand by and watch someone pinching at Christmas”.

Philip Sharp says he did not think twice when he spotted the crook tricking the 69-year-old victim at a cash machine at Tesco on Earle Street, Newton-le-Willows.

The thief, Lee Murray, had distracted the pensioner before taking £20 that was sticking out of the hole-in-the wall.

But he was foiled by brave Philip, who police have hailed as a “good Samaritan”.

Philip, 26, told the Star: “I was with my missus when we saw this guy tap the old fella on the shoulder as he was getting money out of the cash machine. He told him he dropped something.

“As soon as he looked down he took the cash out of the machine as an old lady swung at him with her handbag.

“I saw red and chased him and said give me the money back. He said he hadn’t got any money then threw £10 at me.

“I carried on chasing him and he threatened me, saying ‘I’ll punch you’. I just said I’ll punch you back and kept on running while I rang the police.

“I’ve only recently moved into the area from Warrington so am not too familiar with the streets. He kept saying I’ve no money and threw money on the floor. But I told him I wanted the rest of it because I wasn’t sure how much he had taken.

“It was a pensioner and the money might have been for his Christmas shopping. Eventually I stopped running after him and went back to Tesco. The staff were with the guy to make sure he was ok.

“I asked him how much he had withdrawn and he said £20.

“To be honest I didn’t think of any consequences. I would have done the same if it had been a young person. I wasn’t about to stand by and see someone pinching at Christmas.”

Inspector Ian Shuttleworth, of St Helens North Neighbourhood policing team, said: “This type of crime that targets vulnerable members of our society is shameful and left this elderly gentleman very shaken.

“It’s thanks to our good spirited citizen that the cash was returned and those who witnessed the incident who helped identify the offender that we have seen justice done.”

Lee Murray, 31, from Bank Street, Newton-le-Willows, was given an eight-week jail sentence suspended for a year. He was also given a benefit reduction of £80 and a drug rehabilitation order.