TWO Police Community Support Officers who are becoming full police constables have been rewarded for spotting a burglar fleeing the scene of a crime - who later admitted he carried out a further 35 break-ins.

Ben Hughes-Martin and Alex Locke received Commander's Commendations from Oxfordshire area commander, Chief Supt Shaun Morley.

Both were praised for catching the burglar as he poked his head above a wall at Bicester Health Centre, in Coker Close, last October.

Lewis Thompson, 20, of no fixed address, was jailed in November at Oxford Crown Court for three years after admitting robbery, going equipped to burgle and committing 35 burglaries.

PCSO Hughes-Martin said: "For me, it shows we do have an impact. If we weren't out, we would not have caught him and he would have gone on to commit more offences.

"Getting this commendation is a fantastic way of ending my role as a PCSO."

When Thompson was searched, police found a knife and a crowbar he used to force open windows.

PCSO Alex Locke was on patrol with PCSO Hughes-Martin when they spotted Thompson, but his award was for tracking down a gang of shoplifters who stole meat from the Co-op shop in Bure Place, Bicester, also in October.

After answering a radio call about the theft, PCSO Locke cycled around the area and found four men behind Coral bookmakers, in Victoria Road, with the meat. They ran off, but one man was later arrested and charged with shoplifting.

PCSO Locke said: "I see it as just doing my job. It was lucky that I had a good local knowledge and had a good idea where they would be.

"This commendation has topped off my three years' service as a PCSO."

Commendations were also given to members of the Intensive Recidivist Intervention Scheme for their work with prolific offenders.

The ceremony was held at Thames Valley Police headquarters in Kidlington. Mr Morley said: "Both PCSOs demonstrated a real commitment to reducing crime.

"While they don't have the power of arrest themselves, they were assured enough to keep them talking while police officers arrived to make the arrest."