A mum has described the moment she helped pin down a suspect after an Asda security guard was allegedly assaulted.

Beth Patterson, 24, was walking home after finishing work in Strood when she says she saw "a really dodgy looking bloke".

He was followed by two members of staff from the Asda store in the High Street and Beth says they told her the security guard had been attacked and punched in the head.

"My instinct was to go and help out," mum-of-four Beth said.

"So many times people get away with it and I just didn't want them to and just stepped in between the staff member and him.

"We followed him and all the time he was saying 'I'll fight you now' and took his jumper and top off and carried on."

Beth and the two Asda workers – one of whom was talking to police on the phone – continued tracking the man along Vicarage Road and Frindsbury Road.

"He was crossing the road and did a U-turn to come back to us," Beth added. "People in cars were having to stamp on their brakes."

Two police officers arrived to arrest him on suspicion of common assault but Beth says he was protesting his innocence to police.

Beth, who works at the Aldi store in Strood, said: "He tried to escape and got about two metres when the officers, staff member and security guard and me pinned him on the floor.

"He ended up being in leg restraints and handcuffs. Police called for back-up and a van arrived. He was in handcuffs in the back of the van.

"It was a bit of an eventful evening."

The incident took place at between 8.30pm and 9pm on Sunday, June 28 and the suspect was arrested in Frindsbury Road.

It is understood the alleged assault took place when the security guard asked a man to pick up a sandwich wrapper that had been dropped on the floor and put it in the bin.

Beth says she had little hesitation in going to help out and says she wasn't scared during the incident.

"Some people had said 'you're like a hero' but it's not. I don't feel it's heroic, it's doing what should be done," Beth added.

"I probably would do it again because you've got to.

"I've heard and seen so many assaults go on. My partner was and they got away with it.

"You see so much of it and I just thought 'I've got to help'. It was a very snap decision of 'do I or don't I' but I thought I've got to.

"My family all said 'well done' and it must have been really scary but I wasn't which seems really weird.

"After my hands were shaking but it must've been the amount of adrenaline."

A couple of days later, Beth was standing on the door at Aldi guiding people into the store, when the security guard came up to her.

Beth added: "The guard came up to me and checked that I was alright as well, asked my name as his managed wanted to speak to me.

"I went back on to the till then they came in with flowers and a box of chocolates."

A police spokesman confirmed a 27-year-old man from Chattenden has been charged with two counts of common assault and theft.

He was released on bail to appear at Medway Magistrates' Court later this month.

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