Stabbed man honoured for bravery

Mr Seery managed to unmask the raider who was later jailed

A 68-year-old man who was stabbed twice when he grappled with an armed robber at a bookmakers in Hampshire has been honoured by police for his bravery.

Michael Seery, who is blind in one eye, kicked the thief and fended him off with a chair at Corals in Farnborough.

He managed to unmask the raider who was later identified by staff and jailed for nine years in 2007.

Mr Seery was among 67 people from across Britain honoured for their bravery at a ceremony on Wednesday.

The retired policeman and soldier was recognised at the National Police Public Bravery Awards in Manchester.

He said: "Bravery is nothing to do with it. I am an ex-soldier and your training comes with it.

"Somebody is in trouble and you automatically go into overdrive.

I was stabbed in the groin and the back. I was lucky with the one in the back, it missed a vital organ by centimetres Michael Seery

"It was the screams of the women behind the counter, he had broken down the barrier and I was the only person in there. Women screaming is primordial.

"I was stabbed in the groin and the back. I was lucky with the one in the back, it missed a vital organ by centimetres."

He had to spend five days in hospital following the robbery.

"The good thing was he wore a crash helmet as a sort of disguise but as a parting gift, as he ran out the door, I kicked him in the back. It came off and the women recognised him," Mr Seery added.

"If the circumstances were the same I would do it again tomorrow."

Others to receive awards included people who tackled knifemen, intervened in armed robberies, hauled people from burning cars and a woman who flung herself in front of an out-of-control Rottweiler to protect a baby.