Heroes honoured in award ceremony

Tayside Police awards have been presented to 24 recipients

A woman whose car was hijacked by escaped prisoner has received a bravery award from Tayside Police.

Elaine McLean refused to drive the man away from Perth Royal Infirmary when he broke free from his custody officers in June 2006.

She was one of nine members of the public and 15 police officers presented with awards at a ceremony in Forfar.

They were all honoured on Monday for their "heroic and selfless actions" in difficult situations.

Mrs McLean was commended for "playing a vital part" in the convict's capture.

She and Eleanor Morgan, who tried to trip him up, were awarded Tayside Police Meritorious Certificates.

Shouting for help

Chief Constable's Certificates of Merit were given to three police constables after they arrested a knife-wielding man in Dundee, who had claimed to have killed his parents.

Pc Jamie Buchanan, Pc Simon Donaldson and Pc Nicola Kerr were alerted by the man's father, who was covered in blood and shouting for help from a flat window in the city's west end.

He and his wife both survived their "significant injuries", and the officers were credited with saving the woman's life.

Chief Constable's Certificates of Merit were awarded to Pc John Easton, Pc Donald Florence, Pc David Pettigrew and Pc Sarah Jane Robertson, who stopped a man from setting fire to himself in Crieff.

He had doused himself in petrol after fleeing Stirling Royal Infirmary, where he was being detained under the Mental Health Act.

Three police officers who saved a woman's life after she jumped off a cliff at Arbroath were also honoured.

Inspector Robert Gordon and Pc Simon Paris were given the Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment, while Sergeant Sandra Williams received a Chief Constable's Certificate of Merit.