A SHOPPER who became a have-a-go hero when he saw a woman having her throat slashed was yesterday praised by a judge.

David McNicholas intervened when he saw Tony Griffin attacking his victim near an old railway line in Middlesbrough.

Griffin was this week locked up indefinitely at a psychiatric hospital after a court heard he was a significant danger.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, had the case listed again, so he could award Mr McNicholas £350 from public funds.

He said: "One of the noticeable aspects of the case is that the attack was forestalled to an extent by a passer-by."

As the victim tried to fight off 20-year-old Griffin, Mr McNicholas went to her aid while a dog-walker called police.

The young woman eventually broke free and hid behind her rescuer, while her attacker started jabbing a knife towards them.

Mr McNicholas put his car keys in his fist and confronted Griffin, who then ran off, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Judge Bourne-Arton said: "That she did not sustain and greater injury was due in part to her courage, but also due to the courageous intervention of Mr McNicholas, and the help given to him by the dog-walker."

Mr McNicholas was on his way home from the shops when he stumbled across the attack near Flatts Lane, Normanby.

Griffin, of Sandmoor Road, Eston, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having an offensive weapon.

The court heard that he snapped when the young woman - who he had met on a dating website - told him she just wanted to be friends.

Mike Bosomworth, mitigating, said the attack would not have happened had Griffin not suffered from severe autism.