This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Tribute to Scotland's heroes
02/10/2006
Seventy local 'heroes' from across the country who have carried out acts of bravery against crime and antisocial behaviour were honoured at the First Minister's Heroes Awards today.
At a reception in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, FM Jack McConnell McConnell said:
"Every year I am inspired by the bravery and courage of individuals across Scotland. When I hear how they have acted instinctively to tackle often dangerous criminals, I am proud of their decency and selflessness.
"They are ordinary people like you and me. They are various ages and they come from many different backgrounds. But their bravery sets them apart - in the face of danger they have shown real courage.
"This year's 'Heroes' are a credit to themselves, their families and their communities. We all owe them our thanks."
Full list of Heroes:
CENTRAL
Grant Steel (17) - Grant chased and wrestled with two males who had stolen his motorcycle from his garage. Although stabbed several times, he recovered his motorcycle and identified the two males to police. One of the males was sentenced to 6 months and the other, who had stabbed the nominee was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment for attempted murder.
James Comrie (35) - James witnessed a man breaking into several cars and making off with their stereos. He called the police and followed the man. His actions were crucial in bringing about the recovery of the stolen goods. The thief was imprisoned for 3 months.
Robert White (NOW DECEASED) - Robert witnessed a drunk male assaulting female members of staff in a take-away. Despite a severe medical problem, he attempted to restrain the attacker. He was himself subject to a brutal attack, triggering an angina attack which left him unconscious. Although he recovered from this incident, Robert sadly died at the end of 2005 . His widow, Anna White, is accepting the award on his behalf. The violent male received a total of £250 in fines.
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
John Irving (76) - John saw a man hiding 2 plastic canisters under some rocks. He contacted the police and provided them with a description of the man and his vehicle. A well known local drug dealer was arrested and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.
FIFE
June Finnie (54) - June provided the police with descriptions of three people she saw acting suspiciously near a nursing home around the time that a series of thefts had occurred. She later witnessed one of the individuals acting suspiciously and provided the police with further details including a description of their vehicle. As a direct result of her vigilance, three individuals were identified and later found guilty of various crimes of dishonesty.
Thomas Morris (68) and Kenneth Hush (43) - Thomas and Kenneth witnessed the assault and robbery of an elderly woman. They gave chase in their car, and then on foot. They caught the suspect and restrained him until the police arrived. The suspect was convicted of assault and robbery and sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
Saul Mwamba (56) and Kim Smith (19) - Saul and Kim were confronted by two knife wielding males in their shop. They activated the shop's personal attack alarm and managed to leave the shop, locking the robbers inside. Although the robbers smashed their way out of the shop having stolen an amount of cash, the nominees managed to advise the police of their movements and they were arrested, despite resisting violently. One of the robbers was sentenced to 23 months imprisonment and the other has since plead guilty and is awaiting sentence.
GRAMPIAN
Leslie Officer (50) and Paul Gordon Officer (20) - Lesley and Paul saw a man stealing the purse of a 77 year old woman. They chased and caught the man, restraining him until the police arrived. The offender was convicted of robbery and sentenced to three months imprisonment.
Graeme Slapp (35), Paul Atherton (40), David Lumsden (57) and Christopher Breen (40) - Graeme tried to catch a man who had robbed a woman of her handbag. The man escaped after threatening the two nominees with a large knife. Paul, David and Christopher had also witnessed the man running off and continued to search for him and were later able to identify the suspect to police officers when they saw him in a nearby street. The suspect was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.
Robin Steel (40) and Steven Smith (39) - Robin and Steven tackled a man, armed with a knife, who had just robbed an elderly lady of her handbag. They restrained the man until the police arrived. The offender was later sentenced to 51 months imprisonment for Robbery and Assault.
Jane Coates (33) and Ian Stephen (55) - Jane and Ian saw a man run off with a an elderly lady's handbag. Jane attempted to stop the man and shouted to Ian to assist. Ian managed to restrain the man until the police arrived and the offender was later sentenced to 4 months imprisonment for robbery.
LOTHIAN AND BORDERS
Brendan Davanna (37) - Brendan challenged a man he saw shoplifting and, in the ensuing struggle, received a knife wound to the hand. Although the offender escaped, he was later arrested and sentenced to 5 months imprisonment.
Cedric Francoise (28) and Stuart Hutson (39) - Cedric and Stuart prevented two men from stealing a caravan from the caravan park where they worked, before restraining the men until the police arrived to arrest them.
Nicholas Gibb (31) - The nominee followed a man who had just stolen a car stereo and delayed him on a bus. He then chased the man and detained him until the police arrived.
James Healy (69) and Matthew McKeon (63) - The two nominees disturbed two youths they saw attempting to steal property from a neighbour's house. They attempted to detain the suspects and contacted the police who later identified one youth who had been involved.
Thomas Kinnear (69) and Mrs Dale Scott (52) - Thomas took on a man armed with a hammer who was attempting to rob his post office, pulling off the suspect's balaclava which made him run off. Mrs Scott witnessed the incident and following the suspect through the streets, keeping the police informed of his movements. Mrs Scott identified the suspect from pictures, the area was sealed off by police and the man was arrested and later sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.
Stuart Reid (26) - Stuart saw a man carrying a knife running away from a petrol station and immediately began following him in his car. He spotted the suspect's location and informed the police. The suspect was arrested and later sentenced to 32 months imprisonment.
Craig Robertson (30) and Mark Robertson (30) - The twins were threatened by an aggressive man with a knife. Fearing for the safety of themselves and others, they managed to restrain him until the police arrived. He was arrested and later sentenced to 8 months imprisonment for Breach of the Peace.
NORTHERN
Dean Carpenter (44) - Dean noticed a male acting suspiciously in his shop. When the suspect had left the shop, he supplied the police with a detailed description. The suspect was subsequently stopped by police who discovered firearms, other weapons and forged police warrant cards in his vehicle. The suspect was later sentenced to 3 years and 4 months imprisonment.
STRATHCLYDE
Scott Galbraith (29) - Scott pursued a man running away from a bank carrying a handgun and a rucksack. He pursued the suspect, and, despite being threatened with the weapon, Scott continued to chase the suspect and managed to detain him until the police arrived. The offender was imprisoned for 5 years and 6 months.
John Paul Robertson (31) - John followed a thief who robbed a woman of her handbag. He then contacted the police and the thief was arrested.
William Nugent (51) and Janice McNail (49) - Together, they observed, challenged and detained a male who had deceptively gained access to their office. He was later sentenced to 3 months at a Young Offenders Institute.
Carol Lindsay (32), David Anderson (21), John Smith (49) and Margaret Watson (47) - All were working in their store where two male shoplifters were operating. Carol and John challenged them and one produced a knife. David saw what was happening and tried to assist, when one of the males swung a machete at him, narrowly missing him. Margaret and Carol proceeded to follow the culprit allowing police to arrest him nearby. The main culprit was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.
Mohammed Chaudhary (38) - Mohammed, owns a fast-food takeaway in a rundown shopping arcade. He has provided invaluable assistance to the police over several years, despite being the victim of regular racially motivated abuse. By installing a quality CCTV system, regularly providing information to the police, and displaying remarkable faith in the legal system, Mohammed's actions have been key in securing a number of convictions in court.
Graeme Strachan (16), Aaron Finn (16), Martin Higgins (15) and Shaun Quinn (17) - They pursued a man armed with a knife after he robbed a 47 year old woman. Although they lost track of him, they returned to the scene of the incident to help the woman home. They also provided the police with a full account of the incident and Aaron identified the culprit from a series of photographs.
Gareth Gillies (27) - On duty as a security guard at Braehead Shopping Centre, Gareth noticed a drunk man staggering towards the car park. When he discovered that the man was the driver of a minibus carrying children with disabilities, he immediately contacted the police and delayed the driver's leaving, preventing any possibility of harm coming to the children on board.
Patrick McGowan (54) - Patrick challenged a man who had broken into the premises and threatened to stab both him and a colleague with a needle. Patrick then pursued the man and informed the police who managed to trace the male nearby. The offender was sentenced to 5 months imprisonment.
Gary Gibson (36) - Gary tackled a male attempting to steal his car, despite being threatened with a pair of scissors. He then contacted the police and followed the suspect in his car. He saw the male attempt to steal another vehicle before the police arrived.
Peter Hilley (30) - Peter saw a male stab a 48 year old woman. He observed the male as he threw his cap into some bushes and the knife used in the attack into a refuse skip. The information Peter provided to the police led to the male being convicted, due mainly to the forensic evidence found on the discarded items, and imprisoned for 5 years.
Antonio (Tony) Halpin (11) - Tony was in his uncle's garden, where he saw a man who he thought was acting suspiciously gain entry to a neighbouring house by claiming to be the home help. Tony and his uncle entered the neighbour's house and established that he was not who he claimed to be and made him leave the premises. The male was later sentenced to 2 months imprisonment.
Arthur Rogan Cox (40) - Arthur pursued a suspected robber in his taxi before confronting and restraining her until the arrival of the police.
TAYSIDE
Ian Flight (46) - Ian followed a man he had seen breaking into a vehicle. He followed the suspect, keeping the police informed of his location. The man was subsequently arrested, charged and sentenced to 100 hours community service.
Allan Gibson (21) - Allan chased a man who had just robbed a woman of her purse, retrieving the purse for the woman. He then helped police officers to find the man, who was arrested in a nearby street and later fined £250.
Megan Hassett (14) - Megan contacted the police after she saw two men force entry into a shop and making off with two motorbikes and crash helmets. She waited for the police to arrive and her account of what had happened and description of the suspects resulted in the arrest of three males.
Kevin Killen (30) - Kevin challenged a man he suspected of breaking into his place of work and stealing some property. Despite struggling violently, Kevin restrained the suspect until police arrived on the scene. The man was later sentenced to 120 days imprisonment.
Alexander MacKenzie (61) and Colin Smart (46) - Colin followed an erratically driven car, contacted the police and thereafter witnessed the driver lose control, causing the car to mount the kerb and come to a halt off the road. Alexander assisted Colin and, on noticing a strong smell of alcohol on the driver's breath, they removed the keys to prevent him driving away. The man received a fine and was banned from driving for 18 months.
John Osbourne (35) - John challenged a youth breaking into a car and restrained him until the police arrived.