North Yorkshire Police’s PC Sara Widdrington, who is based in Scarborough, has won the Emergency Services Award in this year’s Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards. She will be presented with the award at a ceremony which take place (6 October 2014) at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
PC Widdrington
PC Widdrington said: I am so thrilled, delighted and surprised to have been chosen for this award. There are so many other acts of bravery and courage going on every day across the UK, be that in the emergency services or by members of the public. I am very humbled that mine has been acknowledged in this way.
Chief Constable Dave Jones added: We are thrilled for Sara and the fact that her bravery has been acknowledged in this way. Sara is an inspiration to everyone and her actions on that day are indicative of the many situations that police officers and staff face every day across the UK. She is a credit to North Yorkshire Police and thoroughly deserves her award.
PC Widdrington was off duty when she disarmed a man trying to rob a cashier at gunpoint in Tesco.
The 47-year-old was with her son at one of the checkouts when she noticed a man brandishing a black pistol and pointing it towards the cashier who was serving her.
The terrified cashier ran away, but PC Widdrington feared for the safety of other customers and knew she had to act.
She ran around the checkout area and grabbed the man’s left hand, which was holding the pistol, managing to lower his arm so the gun was now pointing at the floor.
The police officer then asked the man to drop the gun, but he replied: ‘No get off, it’s loaded.’
As PC Widdrington held the man’s arm, she could tell the gun was heavier than a ‘BB’ gun and told her son to leave the shop.
She then kicked the man’s legs away, knocking him to the floor and restraining him until police arrived at the store in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
