Telford police pair up for bravery awards after saving woman in petrol horror
Two Telford police officers have been nominated for this year’s Police Bravery Awards after saving a woman from the hands of a violent man.
Pc Steve Bloomer and Pc Philip Parke were the first officers on the scene to reports of a woman screaming inside a house in Telford.
The pair entered the address to find a man who had poured petrol all over the downstairs of the house as well as the woman he had taken hostage.
He was threatening to slit the woman’s throat, kill himself and burn the house down.
Pc Bloomer tried to reason with the man, who would not talk to the officers. Noticing that the man was about to light a match, he lunged for the man and grabbed his arm.
He pulled the woman from his grip so she could escape as Pc Parke used his PAVA spray. This was not enough though as he was struggling with Pc Bloomer, so Pc Parke punched him in the face.
A violent struggle ensued before the pair could gain control of the man; and they suffered cuts and bruising as they scuffled on the glass-strewn floor. Pc Bloomer ended up with petrol in his eye and the officers needed hospital treatment.
It later transpired that the man was on bail for raping the female. He later pleaded guilty and was convicted for attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The duo will attend a reception and an evening awards ceremony 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.
Russ Yeomans, Chairman of West Mercia Police Federation, said: “This was a very frightening incident. If these two officers had not been there that day, things could have ended very, very differently.
“They knew that they were in grave danger, but they went ahead and took the man on anyway and in doing so they saved four lives that day. Pc Parke and Pc Bloomer epitomise the best of British policing and should be applauded for their courage.”
