Policeman honoured for protest bravery

The police van was "flattened" by the bulldozer

A Dyfed-Powys police officer who risked his life to save a colleague in angry protests during the foot-and-mouth crisis is to be recognised for his bravery.

Inspector Ian Rees, from Carmarthen, was in danger of being crushed as he and other officers tried to stop a bulldozer driver going on the rampage during last year's outbeak.

He acted without thought for his own safety and in the highest traditions of the service

Chief Superintendent Mark Cox

The incident happened on the Epynt ranges near Sennybridge in Powys in April 2001.

The officers smashed the bulldozer cab windows to spray the driver with CS gas as the machine crushed a van in which a South Wales police officer was trapped.

Inspector Rees is being honoured at the Police Bravery Awards ceremony in London on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendentt Mark Cox, head of operations for Dyfed-Powys Police, said: "This was a nightmare scenario where an out of control bulldozer driver was a lethal threat to all persons in the area.

"Inspector Ian Rees was confronted with a situation which placed himself, his colleagues and the public in extreme danger.

"He acted without thought for his own safety and in the highest traditions of the service.

Inspector Ian Rees: bravery award

"We can be justifiably proud of his and the actions of other officers at this incident."

The driver of the bulldozer - 28-year-old farm worker Stephen Morgan from Llandovery - was cleared of attempted murder at Swansea Crown Court last December.

But he was jailed for three years after being found guilty of taking the vehicle and driving it without regard for human life, endangering the life of a police officer.

He took the bulldozer during a protest against the burial of foot-and-mouth carcasses.

Morgan was one of up to 150 protesters trying to blockade the army range at Sennybridge, Powys, which had been earmarked as a disposal site.

Inspector Rees has been nominated for the award along with three other officers from South Wales Police.