from off-licence A man who stole cash from an off-licence and tried to escape in an elderly woman's car, was chased by four members of the public, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Paul Wiltshire, 34, of Middlesex, pleaded guilty to burglary and affray in the incident in Summertown, Oxford, on September 1.

Tony McGeorge, prosecuting, said the burglary took place at around 2pm when Eleanor Harrison, trainee manager of Bottoms Up, on Banbury Road, realised she had left the shop's safe open.

She went into the office and found Wiltshire standing next to the safe with the cash containers missing.

She tried to grab him but he pushed past her, taking £2,623.

As Wiltshire tried to leave the shop several customers tried to stop him, though he broke free and ran out of the store.

Mr McGeorge said four members of the public then showed "extraordinary courage" in giving chase to Wiltshire who ran off while threatening to attack them with a screwdriver.

The four men then followed Wiltshire -- who had lost one of his trainers -- on foot and by car as he ran into Marston Ferry Road towards Marston.

The court heard Wiltshire then climbed through the passenger door of 85-year-old Joan Crewdson's car, and locked the door, while the men in pursuit shouted at him to get out.

The men boxed the car in with their own vehicles so Wiltshire could not escape, and helped the woman out, by which time police had arrived.

In defence, Anthony Rimmer said Wiltshire had a chronic drug addiction, and the theft from the shop was an opportunistic burglary.

He said custodial sentences had in the past failed to help Wiltshire to tackle his drug problem.

Mr Rimmer said his client regretted what had happened, particularly getting into the elderly woman's car, although he insisted he did not intend to alarm her.

Judge Mary-Jane Mowatt adjourned sentencing until January 24 to allow him to be assessed for a drug treatment and testing order.

He was given bail with the condition he lived at his mother's address in London, and did not leave the house between 10pm and 6am.