Two courageous Staffordshire officers who disarmed a knifeman to save a woman’s life will be honoured at Tuesday’s national Police Bravery Awards.
Sergeant Amos Durose and PC Kristian Avons responded to a 999 call in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, and as they approached the house they could hear a man and a woman shouting, swearing and screaming inside.
Fearing for the woman’s safety, the officers forced their way into the house to find the defendant, who was high on drugs, holding a knife to her throat.
The man ran at the officers and tried to attack them with the knife. They moved out of the bedroom for their own protection as the defendant plunged the blade into the door.
The shouting, swearing and threats to kill continued so, fearing for the woman’s life, the officers returned into the bedroom and found the defendant again holding the knife against the terrified victim’s throat.
The defendant was told to drop the weapon but the woman started screaming even louder and Sgt Durose believed her throat had been slashed.
PC Avons struck the attacker with his baton and Sgt Durose then jumped at him, taking hold of him and pushing the woman out of the way.
As Sgt Durose was fighting with the defendant to try to disarm him he felt numerous blows to the back of his stab vest and neck.
PC Avons then hit the attacker with his baton which subdued him and stopped the attack on his colleague. The defendant was then handcuffed.
Sgt Durose and PC Avons were covered in blood and initially thought they had been stabbed but their protective vests had saved them.
Investigating officer DC David Stubbs said: “There’s no doubt the actions of both officers saved the life and prevented serious harm to the female and that the actions of PC Avons prevented serious injury or worse to Sgt Durose.
“They not only entered the bedroom once, knowing they were facing a man high on monkey dust, armed and being threatening with a knife, they went in a second time despite already being attacked, putting themselves in great peril to save the female’s life knowing back up was some time away.”
The defendant was given a 30-month sentence for making threats to kill, 18 months for ABH on the female victim and 12 months each for attempted ABH on the officers.
The officers have been nominated for the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Police Bravery Awards 2020. Sponsored by Police Mutual, the awards honour some of the finest officers in England and Wales who have performed incredible acts of bravery, while on or off duty.
The ceremony was due to be held in London in July last year but was postponed due to the pandemic.
It will now be staged on Tuesday 12 October. A total of 94 brave officers from forces across England and Wales have been put forward for an award.
