A woman has been publicly praised and given a reward after helping to trap a team of burglars.

Irene Newsome was awarded £100 from the public purse at Chelmsford Crown Court after Asstistant Recorder Mark Lowe heard how her swift actions helped to catch the three burglars who raided a pub.

Mr Lowe said: "Not only did she act in a brave and public-spirited way that night, but she came forward to give evidence that was clear and firm and quite unshaken in the witness box."

The court had heard how Mrs Newsome alerted police at 2.30am after she was woken up and saw three men acting suspiciously near the King's Head pub in Southminster.

Darren Girling, 22, from Broadhope Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope, denied but was convicted of the burglary.

Darren Saunders, 21, of Merrylands, Basildon, and Jamie Rush, 22, of Broadhope Avenue, Stanford, admitted the burglary.

Rush, who also admitted other charges of taking away a car, driving while disqualified and attempted robbery at a newsagents in Stanford, was jailed for a total of 29 months and banned from driving for a year.

Girling, who admitted other offences of driving while disqualified and handling stolen goods, was sentenced to a total of two years in prison and banned from driving for a year.

Saunders was jailed for 12 months.

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