An 84-year-old veteran who tackled a teenager during a sledgehammer raid on a high street jewellers has put his bravery down to World War II combat training.

Pensioner William Grove told Richmond magistrates how he grappled with the 17-year-old - who denied the offence but was later found guilty of burglary - outside Ernest Jones jewellers, in George Street, Richmond, on October 30 last year.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, battered the display window of the shop along with a 16-year-old accomplice - who pleaded guilty to the crime in December and was given a six-month detention and training order - in front of a crowd of shoppers.

In court on Monday, Mr Grove said: “I think my reaction was the same as everybody else, that this was some sort of stunt.

“When the glass broke I realised this was serious.”

The former RAF ground staff officer seized the opportunity to disable one of the teens using a technique he was taught during the Second World War, Mr Grove told the court.

He also explained how he grabbed one of the masked youths and pulled his balaclava off before he and his partner escaped.

Chairman of the bench, Ms Stewart Clarke, and borough commander of Richmond police, Detective Chief Superintendent Rick Turner, heaped praise on the Richmond resident.

D Chief Supt Turner said: “But for the bravery of this elderly gentleman it may be that these two violent criminals would not have been arrested.

“His public citizenship and duty are evident for all to see.

“I would not ordinarily encourage members of the public to approach violent criminals but phone 999.

“However, I wholeheartedly commend his actions.”

After hearing from Mr Grove and three eyewitnesses and being told by prosecutor Ruth Jones that the recovered balaclava had traces of the youngster's DNA, magistrates found the 17-year-old, from Sydenham, guilty of burglary.

The youth claimed he spent the day travelling to Hammersmith to face officials at West London Magistrates’ Court over charges of possessing drugs but Ms Stewart Clarke rubbished the account. He will be sentenced later this month.

Despite all the praise Mr Grove still maintains he is not a hero.

He said: “I would like to emphasise that I do not believe I am a hero.

“The reason I took action is that no one else was doing anything about what was going on. I therefore took it upon myself to intervene.

“I believe that my unarmed training during my service within the RAF stood me in good stead to take action.”

Watch Mr Grove in action: