This is the moment a brave passer-by helped to tackle a jewellery thief as he tried to escape with a £30,000 haul of rings and earrings.

James Happer, 51, fled from Finery and Co jewellers in Saffron Walden, Essex with £30,970 worth of sparkling goods, including gold and diamond earrings, rings and a bangle, on March 7.

PC Ryan McNamara, who was out on patrol, heard shouts of ‘Stop!’ and ‘Thief!’ as Happer was being chased by a member of staff.

Video footage released by Essex Police shows the moment the officer caught Happer and told him he was under arrest. Happer responded, ‘For what?’ while he struggled to escape.

A member of the public walking by appears to help assist the officer catch the thief.

A screenshot from video footage shows the moment James Happer, 51, was caught by PC Ryan McNamara

Happer fled from a jewellers in Saffron Walden, Essex with £30,970 worth of sparkling goods, including gold and diamond earrings, rings and a bangle, on March 7

The officer managed to arrest the 52-year-old from Loughton but was punched in the face while doing so.

Happer also attempted to use PC McNamara’s PAVA spray against him. The officer managed to use it to incapacitate Happer and passers-by helped the PC apprehend him.

PC McNamara said: ‘I want to thank the people who provided assistance as I was arresting Happer and helped to ensure that the man responsible for the burglary was held to account.’

‘One of the original principles of policing is that the police are the public and the public is the police and that was certainly the case on that day…’

‘My colleagues and I continue to provide high-visibility policing through foot patrols in Saffron Walden and other towns and villages across Uttlesford.’

The officer managed to arrest the 52-year-old from Loughton but was punched in the face while doing so

A member of the public walking by appears to help assist the officer catch the thief

‘However, Saffron Walden is a special place to me, and it’s an absolute privilege and an honour to serve the good people who live and work here.’

After the case, investigating officer PC Carl Wright, said it appeared Happer had travelled to Saffron Walden to target the jewellers. ‘This type of crime is rare in Saffron Walden, which is a safe town.’

‘Happer is a prolific offender who clearly didn’t want to be arrested.’

‘He offered violent resistance to PC McNamara, who was able to detain him safely with assistance from members of the public.

‘They helped to stop him from getting away with £31,000 of high-value items which he would have been likely to sell on for a fraction of the price.’

Happer admitted burglary and assaulting an emergency worker

‘Happer offered violent resistance but, thankfully, members of the public stepped in to assist PC McNamara so that he could be safely arrested and brought to justice.’

Happer admitted burglary and assaulting an emergency worker.

He was given an 18-month jail term suspended for 18 months at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Happer will have to complete a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months, a rehabilitation activity requirement for up to 25 days and 19 sessions in a thinking skills programme.