AN off-duty police officer recovering from back surgery helped catch thieves escaping a raid on a jewellers.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Jason Rae and Claire Shirley attempted to steal 12 gold bracelets from Michael Anthony Jewellers in Rawtenstall.

But when the pair tried to escape with their loot, off-duty officer Ash Fowler, who had had spinal surgery just weeks earlier, and a passerby intervened.

The court heard the pair were spotted running from the store, after posing as customers, followed by the shop owner Michael Cassidy.

After witnessing Rae climb into a Vauxhall Tigra parked nearby, motorist Matthew Tighe sprung into action and used his car to block off the road.

The court heard another motorist also had seen what was happening and pulled up behind Rae preventing him from reversing.

Prosecutor Ian Metcalfe said in sheer desperation to escape, Rae drove forward into Mr Tighe's car causing more than £1,000 of damage.

Mr Tighe even 'damaged his own foot' trying to kick through the window of Rae's car to stop him driving away, the court heard.

Admitting defeat Rae then climbed out of the car and he and Shirley tried to run away.

However, Mr Tighe managed to stop Shirley despite her threatening to 'get him later', the court heard.

Managing to reach Newchurch Road, Rae attempted to steal a BT Open Reach van driven by Amanda Cumpsy.

Mr Metcalfe said Rae approached the van shouting 'help help, they are going to shoot me' before jumping on top of Miss Cumpsy, who was sat in the drivers seat, and tried to take control of the vehicle.

The court heard Rae was ‘pressing down on the accelerator, while Miss Cumpsy was pulling on the handbrake’ and at one point he hit her in the face with his elbow.

PC Fowler who was walking down the street said he saw what he believed to be a carjacking.

His instinct to help kicked in and he ran across the road and tried to tackle Rae, enabling Miss Cumpsy to escape from the van.

The court heard a 'struggle ensued' between Rae and the police officer, who tried to steer the van to the curb.

Mr Metcalfe said PC Fowler managed to throw the keys out of the vehicle and when Rae tried to run, he managed to rugby tackle him to the floor and hold him until police arrived with the help of another passerby.

Recorder Swinnerton said Rae had 'an appalling record of 140 convictions tracking back to 1984'.

Rae, from Pevensey Court, Manchester pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, theft, taking a vehicle without consent, assault, using a car without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

He was jailed for 22 months.

Former heroin addict Shirley, also of Pevensey Court, Manchester, admitted a single count of theft and was sentenced to six month in prison suspended for two years.

The jewellery snatched was valued at £769.

Speaking after the case, PC Fowler, 48, who works out of Burnley Police station, said: "It was all surreal.

"I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

"It was just the right thing to do.

"I hope if I'm ever in the same situation someone would do the same for me.

"I got great praise when I went back to work from everyone from the chief constable to my direct line manager.

"Initially it didn't register.

"It was just my reaction to do something and try and stop them so I threw myself into the vehicle to stop them getting away.

"The woman was hysterical and in floods of tears.

"She threw her arms around me afterwards, she was extremely upset and was quite emotional."

The court heard how Shirley had been battling drug problems and had been making positive steps.

Defending her Michael Blackey said: "She is a lady in desperate need of help.

"She is lonely and trying to reconcile with her son, and she was intending to go back on her university course.

"She is no longer dependent on the use of heroin."