A have-a-go hero who once made headlines for attacking an intruder at his home has again been told not to take the law into his own hands.

Tony Blackall was thrown into a police cell for 12 hours in 2002, after assaulting a man who he said was hurling bricks at his house in Broad Oak, Canterbury.

More than 15,000 people supported Mr Blackall in a News of the World telephone poll and he was never charged, with the man he attacked later cleared of affray.

But Mr Blackall has again found himself criticised by officials – this time for tackling a shoplifter outside a city supermarket.

The 62-year-old and his son Aidan, 21, took the thief to the ground outside the Sainsbury’s Local in St Dunstan’s Street on Sunday.

Mr Blackall says he and Aidan were bitten, kicked and headbutted as they restrained the crook.

"There wasn't even a thank you" - Tony Blackall

“We confronted him just outside and asked him to return the goods but he refused,” he said.

“He was holding a bottle and threatened to glass Aidan – so I restrained him.

“He kicked me in the leg and cut me, he headbutted Aidan and bit him on the hand. He kept calling Aidan a ‘faggot’, he threatened to kill him in front of the police and they did nothing.

“The police are supposed to protect – they’re responsible.

“I can understand people not wanting to do what I did because of fear, but I feel that it’s our duty. It comes down to instinct and stealing isn’t right.”

The pair looked on as police took the shoplifter to a store room to interview him and then spoke to Aidan.

“It was then they told Aidan he shouldn’t have got involved,” dad-of-two Mr Blackall said.

“The police made no mention of the assault, or physical damage – they didn’t even interview me.

“They said that we’d made their job more difficult and if the manager of the store didn’t care enough to press charges then why should we care. There wasn’t even a thank you.”

Police said after carrying out inquiries in the store and speaking to those involved, no allegations of any offences were made and no further action would be taken.

Canterbury Inspector Gordon Etheridge added: “While we appreciate the actions of those who intervene to stop a crime in progress, we would advise the public not to put themselves in danger.”

Sainsbury’s spokesman Ewa Lewszyk said: “We follow police guidance on these matters.

“While we are thankful to the customers who intervened, we would always advise them to tell a store colleague if they have spotted a shoplifter.”