A HAVE-A-GO victim completed a citizen’s arrest to end a six-month crime spree across Colchester.

Thomas Williams would tour around the town, sometimes armed with a knife and often in a drug and drink induced state, committing crime.

When Brett Newland spotted the legs of the 33-year-old thief, hanging out the side of his BMW in Beverley Road he decided to do something about it.

Denise Holland, prosecuting, said: “It was 2.15am and he was walking home when he found the defendant inside his BMW on the driveway.

“He has pulled the defendant out of the vehicle and restrained him on the floor.

“The defendant tried to fight back but the victim kept hold of him while his partner called police.”

Prolific criminal Williams, of Drury Road, Colchester, a drug and gambling addict, was remanded into custody.

He was jailed yesterday, for a total 20 weeks for nine offences, at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

On April 7 Williams was caught by another resident trying to get into a Ford Fiesta.

On April 9 he was caught in Vineyard Street car park suspected of trying to get into cars. He was armed with a pocket knife, part of his drug paraphernalia.

A search found him with a stolen bank card and driving licence, reported as stolen from a car earlier in the day.

A subsequent search of his home found a Romanian ID and currency following a theft in March.

He was also found with a black holdall, stolen on April 6, containing gym equipment and a passport.

A driving licence and bank card were stolen during the same week.

During the same drug, drink and crime binge he stole a DVD boxset from HMV.

On August 6 he was found in the BMW stealing a £120 pair of sunglasses.

Williams admitted possession of an offensive weapon, two counts of vehicle interference and six counts of theft.