A pint-sized policewoman who caught a 6ft 4ins murderer by RUGBY TACKLING him to the ground has been nominated for a national bravery award.
PC Helen Burdett, 43, was called to reports of a break-in at a flat in Hyson Green, Notts., on Bonfire Night, 2011.
Once inside with her colleague, Sergeant Mark Golds-Jones, she was met by bloodied Mark Calpin, 44, who had been stabbed five times by Gary Cooper, 45.
After the pair began to administer first aid, they realised crazed Cooper had returned to the scene, although ran off after seeing the two officers.
PC Burdett, who stands just 5ft 2ins tall, gave chase before wrestling Cooper to the ground and arresting him.
Cooper was jailed for life for murder at Nottingham Crown Court in October last year.
Now, the officers have been nominated for Police Federation Bravery awards.
Grandmother-of-one PC Burdett said: “I thought if Cooper got away he could stab someone else. The risks didn’t enter my mind.
“I’d taken another man outside because I didn’t want him to see how badly hurt his friend was. While we were outside, Cooper turned up.
“He just came out of the shadows.
“I recognised him because we’d had dealings with him before over the years.
“He stood there and I said ‘Gary, I need to talk to you’, and then he ran.”
Despite being over a foot shorter than Cooper, PC Burdett managed to fling herself at his legs and rugby tackle him to the ground.
Mr Calpin was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he died from his injuries.
PC Burdett and Sergeant Golds-Jones will travel to Downing Street for the ceremony in October.
Sergeant Gold-Jones, who has been a police officer for 29 years, said: “To be singled out for the award when there are so many officers and staff doing incredible things every day is truly humbling for me.
“I feel very proud to represent the force – but I do believe that almost anyone who found themselves in the position I was would have done the same.”
The officers will join 61 others from across the country who are also nominated for bravery awards.
A formal drinks reception and awards dinner will be held after the officers have met Prime Minister David Cameron.
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Chris Eyre said: “I am enormously proud of the courage and care shown by Helen and Mark in the most challenging of circumstances.
“Their determination to save lives and catch a ferocious and drunken attacker represents the qualities and values that make British policing the envy of the world.”
