A SIX-FOOT former rugby player downed a shoplifter in the street.

Public-spirited estate agent Jeff Thomas gave chase after a suspect refused to pay for a bag of items he had helped himself to at the Co-op store in Wimborne Road, Winton, on Friday night and kept him in a headlock until police officers arrived Jeff said: “I was waiting at the counter when I overheard a conversation about a shoplifter. When he barged past the shop assistant, refusing to pay, I was outraged by his behaviour.

“He was about 6ft tall but I followed him out on to the pavement and jumped on him.

“He fell to the floor and I kept him in a headlock while staff pressed the alarm button.

“The police were there in about five minutes.

“It was an instinctive reaction. I’m about 6ft tall myself and was a fast runner in my rugby playing days but that was a while ago.

“I use the store every day and felt sorry for the people working there. I’m from Wales and still have that Celtic spirit.”

The entire incident is believed to have been captured on the store’s CCTV cameras.

As a thank-you the father-of-two received a bottle of wine from the Co-op.

It’s not the first time Jeff has taken the law into his own hands. He said: “I’ve broken up a fight in a fish and chip shop.

“I used to be a deputy head; maybe that is where my sense of justice comes from and I always try to help people out when they are being badly treated.”

A Dorset police spokeswoman confirmed that officers had attended the Co-op store at 8.50pm on Friday.

She added that a 34-year-old man had been arrested for theft, drug possession and assault.

He was released on bail.