A JUDGE commended a woman for her public spiritedness in helping police detain a man involved in a violent fracas in a town centre late at night.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC told Grace McFarlane he would be writing to the High Sheriff of Hampshire so he could award her £300 out of the public purse. Grace had driven into Eastleigh to collect her husband when she saw a man kicking someone near the Swan Centre.

She rang the police and locked her car doors to follow the assailant, until she saw officers arrive at the scene.

The victim, Mark Collins, suffered a facial wound as well as bruising to his face and body.

Craig Langdon, 29, of Station Hill, Eastleigh, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to causing actual bodily harm. He admitted punching Mr Collins twice in the face but denied kicking him.

The judge said he was satisfied that Langdon had kicked the victim while he was on the ground, and extended his bail until sentence next month.

After Langdon had left court, the judge then spoke to Grace. "Your actions were extremely public spirited. You deserve the commendation. You ensured the police arrest the right man who was committing a very unpleasant offence of violence."