FOUR quick-thinking young friends helped put a prolific offender behind bars and almost certainly prevented other people becoming victims.

Megan Westerman, Amelia Goodwin, Aaliyah Lewis and Millie Stones were shopping in Chepstow on New Year's Day when they saw Andrew Viveash attack an elderly man at a cashpoint.

The 73-year-old victim had withdrawn a large amount of money from the machine outside Barclays Bank in Beaufort Square when Viveash grabbed him.

The girls immediately responded to the victim's cry for help and while Amelia and Millie helped him retrieve cash that had fallen to the ground, Megan and Aaliyah followed Viveash into the Welsh Street car park.

As a result of the accurate description the then 12-year-olds were able to give information on which way he had headed and the police were able to quickly arrest the 30-year-old robber at an address in Chepstow.

Last week Amelia, Megan and Aaliyah returned to Chepstow police station to be presented with certificates for their bravery and the victim has also written to the girls to thank them.

Megan said: "The other man (Viveash) came up with an umbrella, pushed him out of the way and whacked him."

The certificates state each of the girls "is commended for bravery in coming to the aid of an elderly male who had been robbed and for pursuing the offender. These actions contributed to the offender being identified and receiving a lengthy prison sentence."

A judge at Newport Crown Court jailed Viveash, who pleaded guilty to robbery, to 20 months in prison.

Inspector Roland Giles of Chepstow police, who presented the certificates, told the teenagers: "We wanted some recognition for what you did on that day by going after that robber and giving the best details and description that you could.

"There is no doubt if he wasn't caught he would be committing further offences.

"If you hadn't followed him and got a description he might have gone on to do further offences and there would have been further victims."

Prolific offenders officer PC Ben Hardy said Viveash had been identified as a prolific offender by various agencies because of his 'chaotic' lifestyle.

He added: "This is one of the most serious offences he has committed and when he released from prison he will be actively dealt with multi agency.

"If any offences are committed while he's on licence or his behaviour deteriorates he can be recalled to prison to serve the full sentence.

Viveash is due to be released on licence at the end of the year.

Megan's mum, Carla, said: "It was a shock when she called and said she was at the police station but we are very proud of what the girls did."