The police said Mr Hehir "had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger" - but he still lost his job.

Mark Hehir dragged the thief onto the pavement and held him down until police arrived almost half an hour later ...

Mark Hehir chased a man who stole a passenger's necklace and knocked him out after being punched - but Metroline sacked him for gross misconduct and a tribunal upheld the decision ...

The driver restrained the thief for 30 minutes until police arrived, and was fired for gross misconduct ...