A STREET entertainer turned super-sleuth when he spotted a stolen painting on the train to Sheffield.

A man on the train was trying to sell the painting, so local busker Steve Smith made a citizen's arrest until police arrived.

The saga began when Anne Braithwaite, co-owner of Stonegate-based MJ Braithwaite Studio and Art Gallery, noticed a painting of a cross by local artist Barry Tooby was missing. It is valued at £250.

The next day, Steve - who displays the sign "I'm not hungry or homeless, instead I'm a full time street entertainer"' - was on the train to Sheffield.

The man sitting next to him was trying to sell a painting to other passengers, but quick-witted Steve saw the painting's labels had the Braithwaite's gallery logo on them.

He recognised the logo immediately, as Steve often busks near the street pitch Anne's husband, Mark, uses to sell paintings and prints.

So Steve waited for the thief - who has since been named as Owen Berry, of York Arc Light Hostel - to go to the toilet, before ringing the gallery.

Mark immediately identified the painting and called British Transport Police, who raced across the platforms to stop Berry at Sheffield Station.

By this time though, he had already been caught - as Steve had made his citizen's arrest.

"I could not believe all this was happening at first, to be honest," said Anne.

"We were just about to go through our CCTV footage and decide what to do when the phone rang and it was Steve to say he had seen the painting.

"He did brilliantly - as did the police - and it's really amazing we have got the painting back.

"We can't thank him enough - he's a star. It's all so weird, perhaps with it being a picture of a cross there was some sort of divine intervention," she joked.

Steve said: "I was over the moon that I could help - Mark is a great friend and he would have done the same for me."

Mark recently painted a picture of High Petergate with Steve in it, and the couple now plan to present it to the busker as a thank-you gesture.

Acting Sergeant Neil Hubbs, of British Transport Police, said: "We commend Mr Smith for his actions. They led directly to the arrest of the offender and the recovery of the property."

* Berry pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared before York magistrates on Tuesday. His case was adjourned until October 17 when he is due to be sentenced.

Updated: 10:40 Friday, September 28, 2001