A HANDBAG thief was caught by two women after they chased him down the road in their high heels.

Ayar Khdir punched Paris Lees in the arm and chest as she performed a citizen's arrest with a friend.

Eventually 35-year-old Khdir went "limp" and gave himself up.

Catherine Chasemore, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court Khdir said: "Sorry...don't call police."

Officers arrested him and he was bailed for the robbery at 2.40am on August 6, 2005.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, but Khdir, of Burns Street, Arboretum, remained at large until December last year.

He admitted the robbery and breaching his bail at court.

Miss Chasemore said the women had been walking home in Mansfield Road, near Forest Fields, when they sat on a wall to rest their weary feet.

Khdir came along and ripped the handbag from Ms Lees, tugging it so hard he broke the strap.

Miss Lees chased him and grabbed his collar and arm and then Khdir punched her in the arm and chest.

Both women apprehended him. Ms Lees suffered a cut to her big toe from running in her heels and her coat was ripped.

Recorder Rosalind Coe QC gave Khdir a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered that he complete 40 hours of community work.

"It may well be you got a shock when they detained you. It was an opportunistic offence."

Adrian Reynolds, defending, said his client had stayed out of trouble for three-and-a-half years doing menial jobs around the country.

"It's a fairly extraordinary robbery in many ways," he said.

"The violence wasn't used in the robbery. He must have got a shock when they chased after him and overpowered him."

rebecca.sherdley@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk