A POLICE officer has been recognised for her bravery after putting herself in the firing line to save a domestic violence victim.

PC Victoria Threadgold, from Stocksfield, and her colleague PC Gary Sharpe received the North-East regional award at the national Police Bravery Awards last week.

It related to an incident in February 2016 when they were called out to a domestic violence incident in Gateshead where a woman had been assaulted.

PC Threadgold removed the victim, who was said to be very emotional and vulnerable at the time, but the officers were confronted by her drunk and aggressive partner.

The offender – who was known to have a history of violence – encouraged his two Staffordshire bull terriers and a German shepherd to attack the officers. The man produced what appeared to be a black metal handgun which he pointed at PC Sharpe’s face, but with quick thinking PC Sharpe was able to pull his CS spray before he disarmed and restrained the man, while PC Threadgold came to his aid.

The offender was eventually jailed for a year after being convicted of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence in June of last year.

Their actions were recognised by the Police Federation which nominated them in the North-East category of their annual Police Bravery Awards in London, and the pair went on to win the award last Thursday.

PC Threadgold said: “I am proud knowing that we were able to get the woman out of a very dangerous situation before things escalated any further.”