A press agency reporter showed quick hands and even quicker feet when he tackled a runaway court prisoner.

Philip Case, who works for the Reading-based INS News Agency, was at Guildford Crown Court to cover the opening of a trial.

But while standing in the court building corridor, he heard the classic cry of “Stop that man” as a 21-year-old prisoner came bounding towards him.

In true hero style, and with no thought for his own personal safety, left-back Philip drew on his defensive skills to wrestle the man to the floor and pin him down as back-up swiftly arrived.

The prisoner, who had been before the bench in an unsecured dock, had decided to dismiss himself from court without permission.

“He just bolted out of the court,” Philip told holdthefrontpage.

“Because they are not locked docks it’s quite easy to escape.

“Apparently, they are sorting it out this weekend and having a locked dock, which is ironic.

“It was just a funny situation.

“He must have been about 10 yards away and it took me a few seconds to realise what was going on.

“I play football every week and I have never seen anyone running so fast – he absolutely flew.

“He was not a big guy but he had an athletic build.”

The defendant soon found himself stuck under five men as they all tried to control him as they waited for police to arrive.

Philip joked that he was still waiting for “thank you” phone call from the local constabulary…