Award for Cov cop who tackled thug
A COVENTRY police officer tackled a violent thug who had assaulted a grandad in front of his young grandson - and held on to the attacker while surrounded by his drunken accomplices.
PC Rob Cheshire was set to pick up a bravery award for the actions that all happened while offduty and on his way home from a 10-hour shift.
The officer was driving through Nuneaton on September 17 last year when he saw a group of youths circling a BMW before one kicked out at the driver’s door.
When the motorist, who was in his 60s, stepped from behind the wheel to remonstrate with the lout, he was met with a flurry of kicks and punches.
Neighbourhood cop PC Cheshire pulled over to offer support and give first aid while dialling 999 for support from Warwickshire officers - and then joined the search for the offender who had fled into nearby woodland.
It wasn’t long before the 52-year-old - who’s worked with West Midlands Police since 1999 spotted the suspect and helped detain him after a brief foot chase.
“He definitely didn’t want to come quietly,” PC Cheshire recalled. “He put up a violent struggle and the situation got worse when his associates heard the commotion and gathered around myself and the Warwickshire officer.
“We managed to keep them at bay and hold onto the attacker until more police response units arrived.
“I was determined this guy wasn’t going to get away. I’d seen him violently attack a man about three times his age and leave him with nasty facial injuries - and all in front of his young grandson who was a passenger in the car.”
PC Cheshire then drove home and completed an eight-page report on the arrest on what should have been his night off.
A 22-year-old man later admitted assault, assaulting a PC and criminal damage to the car, and was jailed for four months.
And at a Coventry Police awards ceremony at the Ricoh Arena, PC Cheshire was set to receive a Coventry Police Commander’s Commendation in recognition of his actions.
Chief Inspector Hasson Shigdar said: “There was a clear risk in getting involved, facing up to a large group of youths, heavily outnumbered, who were drunk and confrontational.
“Not many people would have done that; Rob was off-duty but recognised the Warwickshire officer needed support.
“I take my hat off to Rob and his efforts that night in ensuring a violent offender was detained and subsequently jailed.”
A number of awards were also handed out at the ceremony, including to three PCSOs who helped catch a man wanted over an attempted child abduction.
The eagle-eyed trio Donna Worledge, Hayley Hardiman and Lucie Harriman - found a car they believed to be linked to the investigation while in the Tile Hill area on September 26 last year.
Their suspicions proved spot on when intelligence unit colleagues confirmed the blue Peugeot 307 was sought in connection with the attempted snatch of a 10-year-old girl in Radford two days earlier.
The community offic-
ers kept watch on the vehicle until uniformed cops arrived to seize the car - and enquiries directed officers to a nearby address where 41-year-old Mounir Kambour was arrested.
Kambour was jailed for nine years in October this year having been found guilty of grabbing the girl in Poole Road and trying to abduct her.
PCSOs Worledge, Hardiman and Harriman were due to be presented with commendations from Ch Supt Mike O’Hara.
Also receiving a Coventry Police Commander commendation was a Coventry city centre officer who suffered a broken nose while detaining a violent burglar.
PC Gavin Crockwell was patrolling in High Street on March 26, 2018, when he spotted William Shaler who was wanted on a recall to prison.
The officer cornered Shaler in TSB Bank and managed to detain the 34-year-old despite him putting up a violent struggle that saw him suffer nasty facial injuries.
He was found in possession of Indian rupee notes that detectives later managed to trace to a burglary in Queens Road, Earlsdon, where bank cards were also stolen.
Shaler was later jailed for 18-months for burglary, fraud and assaulting a police constable.
PC Crockwell will tonight receive a commendation for his bravery.
The Finham Neighbourhood Watch group was set to receive a commendation from Coventry Police Commander Mike O’Hara.
Described as one of the most proactive neighbourhood watch groups across the city, members helped to solve a spate of burglaries in the area.
They appealed to all residents and businesses across the area to scour any CCTV they had to see if the offenders had been caught on camera.
The appeal paid off as one of the clips showed a suspect trying a door handle and he was identified as 34-year-old Dwain Mathews.
Mathews was arrested, charged with several burglaries - including ones in Crossway Road and Green Lane in Finham and in March this year jailed for 43 months.