TWO men who tackled and detained an armed thief in Minehead have been honoured with bravery awards.
Richard Floyd (pictured) and Robert Burge took on the man who was armed with a knife when he stole an elderly woman’s handbag in December.
They were among recipients of a Waley-Cohen Award at an Avon and Somerset Police award ceremony last Thursday (April 14).
The awards were presented by Chief Constable Andy Marsh, the High Sheriff of Somerset Edward Bayntun-Coward and former High Sheriff Angela Yeoman.
The Waley-Cohen Award was originally set up in 1965 by Mr M H Waley-Cohen who gave a sum of money to the constabulary for the purpose of recognising members of the public who perform meritorious acts in support of law and order.
Mr Floyde happened to look out from the window of his home and spotted the man approaching the woman.
His suspicions raised, he ran outside – barefoot – and found the suspect had made off with the woman’s bag.
He gave chase and, on seeing Mr Burge ahead, called on him to help detain the suspect, who was later found to be in possession of a knife.