Musician chased a burglar through ten gardens and was stabbed twice before he pinned down the offender.

Nikky French, 30, has become the first Brighton and Hove resident to receive a merit award previously given only to police.

In December Mr French and a friend became aware of a burglary taking place in his next-door neighbour's home.

Mr French went to guard the back door until police arrived and spotted the burglar leaving.

He gave chase, despite being warned by the man that he had a knife and he would use it.

The pair ran into a third garden and the raider hurled a brick at Mr French, which missed.

In the fifth garden, the two struggled and the man stabbed at Mr French with a metal spike but failed to pierce his skin.

The chase continued into the tenth garden. Mr French said: "I was glad I was still pretty fit he was ten years younger than me."

It was then the burglar turned and tried to punch Mr French before he tried to escape into a house through a window.

Mr French held the man in a headlock and he and another resident sat on the man until police arrived.

The burglar was later jailed for three years after admitting 27 break-ins. The judge said: "It is rare now that a citizen is prepared to put himself at such risk to catch an offender.

"Mr French's conduct should be highly commended." Asked why he did it, Mr French said: "There was a lot of musical equipment in my house and, I suppose, I wanted to protect it and the area where I live."

Mr French, an electric guitarist with the stage name Paper Planes, said he was flattered to receive the framed certificate.

He said: "It'll be something to show my mum."

Police officers also received courage awards at the ceremony at Brighton police station.

They were: PCs Stuart McCall and Samantha Burke for arresting a man trying to stab them; PC William Thomas for arresting a violent offender while off duty; PC Jez Stutt for arresting a violent sex offender; PC Roger Cannings for safety training; driver Mark Simmonds for helping catch offenders;

Detective Constable Arthur Ross for his investigation into a highly-sensitive rape case; and Inspector Andrew Parr for leading a successful local support team.

Sgt Daren Egan and PCs Colin Richardson, David Newman, Matthew Webster, Claire Harber, Lucy Ellis-Bell and Louise Davies were commended for arresting an offender who shot at them with an air rifle.

Detective Sergeant David Wilson, Detective Constable Gary Pattison and CID inquiry officer Pat Charman were recognised for a lengthy investigation into a series of sexual assaults.