A SCHOOLBOY has been praised for his honesty after returning a mobile phone he found in the street.

Tabani Pullen, 12, from Brighton, found a Nokia phone belonging to local radio newsreader Richard Lindfield.

Tabani called one of Mr Lindfield’s friends on the phone and said he would leave the device with a local pub, where it was later collected by its relieved owner.

Mr Lindfield said: “I was picking my boys up from drama when I tripped over an A-board the wind had blown down.

“I must have been carrying my phone and dropped it when I went flying.

“A couple of hours later, a friend phoned my wife to tell her I could pick my up phone from a pub near the drama class.

“I was keen to say ‘thank you’ to Tabani but all I had was a name and no other contact details. After a bit of detective work, we tracked him down to Varndean School and I invited him over to the Heart studios in Portslade where I work at the weekend.”

Tabani was given a guided tour of the radio station and was even given a special ‘shout out’ live on air from presenter Lynsey Bartlett.

Mr Lindfield added: “It was good to shake his hand and say ‘thank you’. If it wasn’t for Tabani’s honesty and quick thinking, I would have lost my mobile, which was packed with photos, videos and loads of work contacts.

“I have two young boys and if they had done what Tabani did I would be very, very proud of them.”

Tabani, this week’s Argus Local Hero, said he had no other thoughts other than returning the phone to its rightful owner.

He said: “I’d just finished playing rugby and found it on the floor. I picked it up and thought the person who lost it would be missing it, so I called one of the numbers on it and arranged to give it back.

“I knew it wasn’t mine so I had to try my best to give it back. I had a really good time at the radio station – it was great being able to see how stuff is made and how radio works.”

A Varndean School spokesman said: “We are extremely proud of Tabani and his actions. The school will be rewarding Tabani for his community spirit, which is central to Varndean School’s rewards system.”