The ‘have-a-go hero’, now dubbed legend, is to receive a commendation for courage and bravery from Kingston’s borough commander.

Almost a week after the casual trip which helped police arrest a fleeing suspect and made him a global sensation, Lance Sgt Matt Lawson was offered the honour by borough commander Glenn Tunstall.

This came after he revealed himself at a press conference at the Wellington Barracks, by Buckingham Palace, yesterday.

The borough commander said: “Matthew, as I thank you from the borough I would just like to say we are going to offer you a commendation invitation to our commendation ceremony. We would like you to bring your family along as well and you’ll get a borough commander’s commendation for courage and bravery.”

Since the video of the soldier and euphonium player in the band of the scots guards aiding the chase was tweeted by Kingston police, it has emerged Lance Sgt Lawson was on an early Valentine’s date with his wife.

He was walking near Richmond Road last weekend when the chase came towards him.

Lance Sgt Lawson said: "I heard a shout: 'stop police' and immediately my military training just kicked in.

"I saw the policemen chasing a guy and I thought: he's a bit of a whippet, they'll never catch him up.

"The guy fell and as the police grabbed him, they called back 'cheers mate' and my wife and I just continued on our way."

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Chasing officer PC Brendan Dexter-Beek met Lance Sgt Lawson to thank him yesterday but insisted he would have caught the suspect. (Pic and video credits: Kingston police)

He says he only looked back because the police shouted cheers mate.

"I was just making sure I'd helped and I could hear the police shouting something so I looked back briefly.

"My first thought was this guy was being chased by three policemen who were all shouting.

"I thought he must've done something bad. My wife started pulling me to one side so I just stuck my leg out.