Smile! Knife-wielding thug is caught on camera by pregnant woman - moments after he robbed young boy

A pregnant woman caught a knife-wielding thug on camera - just moments after he had robbed a teenage boy.

Nadine Bevis stood in John King's path and told him to 'smile for the camera' as he tried to make off with the 14-year-old boy's mountain bike.

King was then tackled to the ground by members of the public who managed to restrain him until police arrived.

Miss Bevis said she felt she had to act - even though she could see King, 29, was carrying two knives.

The 32-year-old had just been to a doctor's surgery, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, when she spotted King shouting at Toby Randall.

She said: 'I was sitting in traffic when I heard the man shouting at the boy.

'Then I saw him grab the boy's bike so I leapt out of my car and ran across the road.

'I heard another woman shouting that he had a knife but I just went into a kind of robot mode.

'I was shouting 'give him his bike back' over and over again and that was when he started to come towards me - so I just said 'smile for the camera.' 

'I didn't feel threatened or scared - after all he had just picked on a defenceless child so he obviously wasn't that brave.

'I can still see the boy's poor little face. He was crying so much that he couldn't catch his breath.

Caught on camera: John King, 29, was photographed just moments after he stole a bike from a teenager

'Too many people stand by and let this happen and I wasn't going to be one of them. Thugs like this can't get away with it.'

After she took the snap, King put the bike down, walked towards her and started hurling abuse at her.

But then two men ran from the crowd that had gathered and tackled him to the ground before disarming him.

Police arrived shortly after 6pm on June 27, to find the men pinning King, from Stamshaw, Portsmouth, to the ground.

Victim: Toby Randall, 14, has been left 'wary of people' after his bike was stolen by knife-wielding King

King was arrested and today appeared in court where he admitted robbery and two counts of possessing a bladed article in public.

He was remanded in custody until August 1, when he will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Miss Bevis, from Fratton, Portsmouth, added: 'As I was having my confrontation with him the boy ran over and picked his bike up and cycled off.

'Then a man came from the crowd and tackled him to the ground.

'Another bloke then grabbed the knives and he was down.

'It was a real joint effort and shows that the community won't stand for this.

'Afterwards I realised I had been a bit stupid because he could have attacked me with the knives - but it was just instinct.

'I didn't think about it. I just knew that he was going to get away with such a cowardly crime and I had to stop him.

'I'm pleased I did what I did. Everyone who stopped this guy from getting away did a great thing.'

PC Kevin Shaw, from Kingston Crescent police station, said: 'The timely intervention allowed police officers to arrest King.

'Hopefully this will give the victim some closure. All the residents should be proud of their actions.' 

Victim Toby said he was terrified when King waved a knife at him and told him to hand over his bike.

He said: 'I had just been to a mate's house and was going home when this guy came up to me and told me to get off my bike. Then he pulled a knife out of his pocket.

'I was so scared. I was shaking so I just let him have it and tried to get away.

'I didn't see what all the people did to catch him as I was just trying to get away but I owe them a lot.

''I'm so relieved that he has been caught. It was a really scary experience and it's made me much more wary of people.'

Toby's mother, Julie Randall, said her son had been left shocked and upset.

The 45-year-old, of Eastney, Portsmouth, said: 'I was working in Southampton when I got a call from police.

'Toby was absolutely beside himself. I could barely get any sense out of him.

'He's been left very upset by what happened and I think it's had quite a profound effect.

'But he tries to get on with life and he's acted very bravely.

'We're all very thankful for what everyone did that day to help Toby and catch the guy who did this to him.

'Goodness knows what would have happened if people had not stood up to him.

'I think it is a huge comfort to Toby to know that this man has been caught and is in prison.'