A HAVE-a-go hero, who tracked a knife-wielding robber after he held a customer hostage in the heist at a Blackheath bank, has been given a bravery award.

Craig Common witnessed the robbery at the High Street branch of NatWest on April 17 last year and followed Gregory Dike who had forced a cashier to hand over £1,000 after holding the 11in hunting knife to a customer’s throat.

The 38-year-old bravely pursued Dike, who was wearing a boiler suit and crash helmet, and saw him climb into a waiting taxi.

Mr Common, from Coseley, shouted at the taxi driver and, as a result, the 38-year-old robber jumped out and ran off.

He continued to follow him, while alerting a passer-by to call the police, and saw him enter a garden, where he removed the boiler suit and crash helmet and put them in a bag. He was then chased by Mr Common and tried to car-jack three people waving the weapon in a threatening manner.

Two policemen, sergeants Craig Rolinson and James Lewis, whose bravery had already been honoured, confronted Dike and used CS spray before wrestling him to the ground, holding onto him until back-up arrived.

A search of the bag revealed smoke grenades, handcuffs and the cash from the robbery.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said Mr Common’s “courageous and selfless actions” were all the more remarkable as he was himself a victim of knife crime the previous year.

The case went before the courts in January, where Dike pleaded guilty to robberies in the West Midlands, London, Leeds and Liverpool and was jailed for 11 years.

Mr Common was presented with his award by head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, chief constable Sara Thornton at the Police Public Bravery Awards in Manchester.