TWO courageous teenagers and a man who helped them to corner a rapist were publicly rewarded for their efforts yesterday.

Johnathan Stoker and Adam Barker, then both 16, and Malcolm Bott, 58, all from Stanley, County Durham, each earned praise for helping to catch Martin Walsh a short time after he attacked a woman on a public footpath, last July.

He dragged the 21-year-old, who was walking her dog on the track, near Stanley, into undergrowth before he carried out the rape, during which he physically assaulted her.

The youngsters heard his victim's screams and gave chase, passing on Walsh's description to others, before Mr Bott, a local allotment holder, joined the mile-long pursuit.

Mr Bott helped to detain Walsh and the teenagers kept watch until police arrived to arrest him on the village green, in Oxhill, Stanley.

Walsh, of Blake's Close, Stanley, who was high on drink and drugs at the time, received a life sentence at Durham Crown Court. He was told he must serve six years before he is able to apply for parole.

He admitted two charges of rape and sexual assault.

Judge Tim Hewitt praised the pursuers' efforts and recommended they receive a reward from public funds for helping to catch Walsh.

Certificates of commendation and cheques for token sums from public funds were presented to Mr Barker, now 17, and Mr Bott at court yesterday.

Mr Stoker, also now 17, was unable to attend because of work commitments, and his reward will be sent to him.

County Durham High Sheriff Sareth Nainby-Luxmoore, who made the presentations, said: "The entire group who joined the search deserve our thanks and appreciation for their display of citizenship and comradeship without any thought of the danger to themselves.

"I hope if I were ever to find myself in a similar situation, the community around would respond in such a brave, courageous and determined manner."

Judge Richard Lowden, in his role as Honorary Judicial Recorder of Durham, said: "One of the banes of the work we carry out in this building is the lack of people prepared to come forward and show public service.

"You were prepared to, and I thank you very much for doing so and the example you set."

Speaking after the presentation, Adam, a sports science student at New College, Durham, said: "It is nice to get recognised and get the money," but said he and Johnathan would have done what they did again without the incentive of a reward.

Mr Bott said: "I am pleased I was able to help, but the kids did really well and deserve a lot of credit."

He thanked fellow allotment-holders David Greenfell and Peter Fossey for giving him a lift at one stage during the pursuit.