A pensioner who tackled a would-be burglar has been honoured for his bravery at a national awards ceremony.
Richard John, of Handforth received a silver medal at the Police Public Bravery Awards 2014 ceremony in Harrogate, Yorkshire last week.
Mr John, a retired buying manager, was praised for his part in first confronting, and later detaining under a barrage of hammer blows, a man attempting to break into a nearby restaurant.
The 67-year-old had just returned home from walking his dogs on May 14th last year when he was alerted to the presence of the offender not far from his house.
Mr John went outside and asked what he was doing, at which point the man tried to walk off. When Mr John tried to stop him, the man swung a hammer at his head, which he managed to block. He then got the offender in a bear hug, tightening his grip as the hammer was repeatedly smashed into his knee. He was also bitten twice in the process of detaining him.
The man continued to struggle and resist violently but Mr John and a neighbour, who later joined him, were able to restrain him until the police arrived. Mr John suffered severe bruising and swelling to his knee and undertook months of physiotherapy to help him walk properly again.
The offender, a career criminal, was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment.
Mr John said: "It′s not in my nature to let people walking round doing what they want. It was quite near to my home and it could have been us he was targeting, so when you see something like that so close to home you do something about it.
"It was just instinct − he was up to no good and he wasn′t going to get away with it."
Chief Constable of Cheshire Simon Byrne said: "It was a pleasure to meet someone who is prepared to stand up and protect his community in the face of personal assault - others may have turned away."
Chief Constable David Crompton of South Yorkshire Police, who organised the event, said: "These acts often involve spur of the moment decisions which give little regard to the individual′s own safety often placing them at the very heart of danger.
"The award winners have been responsible for the very bravest acts performed by members of the public within the last 18 months. I am truly humbled by the courage, selflessness and the determination they have displayed and am delighted to be paying tribute to them."
Photo: From left, From left, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Sir Hugh Orde, award winner Richard John and Chief Constable of Cheshire Simon Byrne.
