Daily Star

Hero’s gong for tackling ‘gun-toting’ killer clown MANIAC PARK RAMPAGE

- By JERRY LAWTON Chief Crime Correspond­ent jerry.lawton@dailystar.co.uk

A STUDENT has won a bravery award for tackling a thug in a clown mask who was holding a fake gun and 12in knife.

Callum Matts, 18, was with pals in a park at 1am when he spotted the sinister figure on the rampage.

Masked Mathieu Lucas had already terrified three schoolgirl­s and threatened others with a “small black gun”.

Lucas approached Callum and lunged at his stomach with the blade. The havea-go hero “reacted instinctiv­ely” and flung his attacker to the ground. He pinned Lucas down while pals rang 999.

Callum said: “I had no time to think about it as it all happened so quickly.”

The yob later told Callum: “When I get out I will find you, I will slit your throat and kill your whole family.’’ Lucas, 25, who lived near the park in Cadishead, Salford, was jailed for two years and four months after admitting possessing an imitation firearm and a knife offence.

Greater Manchester Police have now presented Callum with the bravery award following the incident in April.

Supt Andrew Sidebotham said: “He is a remarkably brave young man.”

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 ??  ?? CLOWN TERROR: Cadishead park
CLOWN TERROR: Cadishead park
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SINISTER: Lucas and mask. Right, Callum gets award from Supt Sidebotham
■ SINISTER: Lucas and mask. Right, Callum gets award from Supt Sidebotham

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