Police officers commended over Bridgnorth stabbing
Three police officers have been commended for their actions during a Shropshire stabbing incident in which a woman received life-threatening injuries.
They were called to an address in Bridgnorth on January 11 and two officers quickly restrained the assailant, a 21-year-old man, removing a knife from his pocket.
In the upstairs of the house in Innage Crescent, they discovered a 54-year-old woman with serious stab wounds to her back and neck.
The third officer assisted a paramedic in giving first aid while helping preserve the crime scene.
Police Constables Matthew Picken and Guy Thompson, who were the first to answer the 999 emergency call, have been awarded Shropshire Territorial Commendations for "displaying courage and bravery" in arresting the man.
Their colleague, PC Michael Osborn is similarly commended for "displaying professionalism, forensic awareness and behaving in a calm, sympathetic manner" while assisting the victim.
The defendant appeared at Stafford Crown Court in June charged with malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was given an indeterminate prison sentence with a minimum of three years.
At the time of the incident, PCs Picken and Thompson were on routine patrol in Bridgnorth town centre. They arrived at the address within one minute of the call being made, aware they were likely to be confronted by a man armed with a knife.
Their supervising officer, Sergeant Mark Rock said: "They wasted no time entering the premises and quickly restrained the man. After being handcuffed, he was searched and found to have a knife in his pocket.
"Once he was safely restrained, PC Thompson ran upstairs and discovered the victim lying on the landing bleeding heavily from a neck wound. She had also been stabbed twice in the back, one narrowly missing the heart and the other, her lung.
"PC Osborn was the next officer to arrive. He was able to assist the paramedic with treating the victim and in doing so gave direction with regards to preserving the scene and forensic evidence."
Sergeant Rock added: "Due to the brave and prompt actions of the officers in putting their own safety second to that of the victim, they possibly prevented further injury being inflicted and allowed first aid to be given."
The victim, whose wounds were life-threatening, was taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, eventually making a full recovery.
