A police constable has been commended for her bravery after she used her sign language skills to tackle a deaf attacker who was threatening her colleague.
Sgt John Pursey and PC Chrissie Fortt were confronted by a large hostile crowd, fuelled by drink and drugs, at a house party when they attended a report of a burglary in the Lansbury Park area of Caerphilly.
The officers cleared the house of revellers but one returned with an axe.
PC Fortt realised the man had a hearing and speech impairment and remembered sign language she learned working with deaf people.
She used it to calm the man down and persuaded him to leave. PC Fortt said: “I felt there was no other way of dealing with him.”
Det Chief Con Pam Kelly said: “He was in a rage and pointed at Sgt Pursey with the axe raised in a striking position.
“The occupier of the address came out with a knife to attack the male with the axe.
“Sgt Pursey tackled the man with the knife, leaving himself vulnerable to the axe.
“PC Fortt put herself between her colleague and the man and used communication tactics to keep distance and prevent an attack.”
Both men were arrested.
Sgt Pursey said: “This is the most violent and dangerous situation I have had to deal with in 24 years of policing.”
PC Fortt and Sgt Pursey were both commended for their bravery at the Gwent Police Chief Constable Awards held at the Celtic Manor on March 19.
PC Aaron Stevenson also received a commendation for saving a member of the public who had gone into the moat at Caerphilly Castle.