A classroom assistant has been hailed a hero after stopping a shoplifter in his tracks.

Steve Roome was playing cricket with pupils at New Road Primary School, Chatham, when he heard teachers Katie Green and Claudette James shouting “stop that man”.

Steve gave chase when he spotted the fugitive running through the playground and trying to escape over a school fence.

With no regard for his own safety he grabbed the man around the waist and pulled him to the ground.

PC Chris Edwards arrived on foot to cuff him and take him away.

The 22-year-old man was trying to escape from PC Edwards after he was caught stealing from Debenhams in Chatham High Street shortly before 1pm on Thursday, June 5.

PC Edwards said: “All be it it was a petty crime, Steve didn’t know what the man had done or if he was carrying any weapons but it was clear something was going on due to the police sirens sounding in the area.

“I said thank you to Steve because if he hadn’t grabbed the man when he did I would have had to have scaled a fence with barbed wire at the top to chase after him.

“Fortunately no children were knocked over as the other teachers had managed to pull them aside as the man ran through the playground.”

Head teacher Jan Perry said: “The children have hailed Mr Roome as their hero.

“This man came in and invaded their safe space. It was a situation which could have left the children feeling very afraid and insecure – possibly needing counselling, but they ended up feeling safe and protected because of Mr Roome’s actions.

“He put the safety of the children first. The young man could have been carrying a weapon and easily used it on Mr Roome.”

A modest Mr Roome, said: “I don’t consider myself a hero. I just did what many others would have done.”

The man was later issued with a penalty notice.