A criminal chased down by police officers after jumping from the dock at a magistrates' hearing was jailed yesterday.

Croydon man Dwain Deriggs, 29, was yesterday found guilty of possession of a knife and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

But he might have got away scot-free if it was not for quick-thinking Wimbledon police officers who, at an earlier magistrates' hearing, chased him down Alexandra Road towards Wimbledon town centre after he jumped over the dock and made a run for it.

PC Darren Sims and PCSO Adrian Olivars-Nunes were waiting to give evidence in a separate case at the court when the Thornton Heath man shot past them "at full pelt" in the waiting area.

The officers, who were not wearing stab vests, ran out of the court and tracked him down to Woodside, three streets away, where he was hiding in a garden.

Your Local Guardian:

PC Darren Sims chased down Deriggs when he fled the dock. Pictured last year promoting an anti-bike theft initiative. 

They brought him back to court and he was taken into custody on Wednesday, December 16.

Appearing at Kingston Crown Court yesterday, Deriggs was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

He had previously pleaded guilty to both offences.