Officers attacked by violent man are Bravery Awards winners

CONGRATULATIONS to PC Sarah Currie, PC Michael Otterson and Sgt Elliott Richardson, who have been named as winners of the 2017 National Police Bravery Awards.

They were lured into a trap and shot at by a paranoid schizophrenic in September 2014 when they followed him into a Gateshead pub.

As the two PCs entered the pub, the man levelled a firearm at the officers.

They were involved in a violent and lengthy struggle when the gun went off, despite the fact that Sgt Richardson had joined the fight and was using baton strikes on the man to overpower him.

Following a sustained struggle and with the help of a member of the public, the four eventually disarmed the man.

It later emerged that he had deliberately lured the police officers to the pub in an attempt to attack them; he had been armed with two handguns, a crossbow, a pack of throwing knives, home-made petrol bombs, smoke grenades and a baseball bat. He was also found to be wearing body armour.

The man revealed in interview that he had reached a crisis point in his mental health and had planned to hurt the officers in an act that would ensure he received the mental health treatment he needed. The following year he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

The officers will attend a reception and an evening awards in London in July. The National Police Bravery Awards honour officers who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty. The awards are sponsored by Police Mutual.

The presiding Judge at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr Recorder Lowe QC praised the actions of the three officers: “In the knowledge that the defendant was armed with at least one handgun and that he has already fired a gun at home of another male, they bought to a safe resolution by arresting and detaining the defendant, a situation in which he and members of the public might well have been killed or seriously harmed.

“They behaved with conspicuous bravery in carrying out their duties on that day whereby they ensured the safety of the public. I am grateful to the officers.”

Jim Gray, Chairman of Northumbria Police Federation, added: “Police officers never know what they will face when they put on the uniform each day.

“This event could have ended very differently. These officers put their lives on the line to protect each other, the public and their assailant. They showed utmost bravery and should be honoured and thanked. We re incredibly proud of this tremendous trio.”