TWO police officers have been commended for their actions in dealing with a violent man suspected of burgling a home in Cleobury Mortimer.

The man assaulted two of the occupants, one of them requiring hospital treatment, after they awoke to find him in their house.

As they challenged him, he assaulted them both before being confronted by a third resident. He then fled the property empty-handed.

The man was arrested two days later after being identified by two Ludlow officers involved in the investigation.

Police Constables John Ralph and Richard Dixon have been awarded divisional commendations for their “diligent, energetic and selfgenerated investigation”

which led to the quick arrest and remand of the offender.

The incident came to the notice of police in April 12 when a family member phoned to say they had been woken up at 3am by an unknown man in the upstairs of their home.

He grappled with the two householders before managing to escape and a police inquiry was launched.

“By using a mixture of peerless local knowledge and common sense, the offender was identified and arrested two days later by PC Ralph and his colleague PC Dixon, who were still covering other routine response work on early shifts.” said Sergeant John Smithson.

He said the case was extremely serious.

“The suspect was interviewed and the full facts put to the Crown Prosecution Service. A rapid action plan was proposed and further statements taken, again solely by the two officers.

“At the conclusion of this, a further interview was undertaken, further advice sought from CPS and the suspect was charged with several offences, remanded to cells and the Probation Service informed so his license could be revoked,” said Sgt Smithson.

The offender was successfully remanded in custody the following morning and a trial date set. He was subsequently jailed at Shrewsbury Crown Court for four months after admitting two counts of assault.

“This marathon effort by the two offices was completed almost entirely without supervision and involved a 21-hour uniform shift to complete the remand file.

Both officers returned to their routine response work later that same day after a few hours’ rest.

“Due to their local knowledge, experience in investigative work, advanced interviewing and file preparation, this dangerous offender was taken off the streets soon after the incident.”

The commendations will be presented by Shropshire divisional commander Chief Superintendent Andy Rowsell at an awards ceremony in Shrewsbury.