AN UNARMED police officer who confronted a knife-wielding man fleeing the scene of a robbery and assault in Denbigh has been awarded for his bravery.

Constable Gareth Jaggard has been honoured with the prestigious Fletcher Award for Bravery by North Wales Police following his successful attempt to track down the robber and stop him through communication following the incident at Shell petrol station on Rhyl Road, Denbigh in April this year.

The Free Press reported on the robbery which was described by DCI Neil Harrison as an "horrific attack", adding that police had "located the suspect nearby".

But it has since been revealed that it was due to Mr Jaggard's bravery in the moments following the attack that the robber was arrested.

According to an account given by North Wales Police, on the night of April 29, an alarm call was received by police from the petrol station due to an ongoing knifepoint robbery. This resulted in Mr Jaggard and two other officers attending the incident.

Mr Jaggard left his vehicle en-route to the scene and encountered the suspect climbing over a wall from the direction of the petrol station.

Despite being alone and faced by a potentially violent and armed subject, Mr Jaggard did not back down and contained the offender through effective communication.

Mr Jaggard quickly called for help from his fellow officers and within six minutes of the initial alarm call the offender was arrested.

Mr Jaggard subsequently located the weapon and the proceeds of the robbery.

Due to the overwhelming evidence against the offender, named as 30-year-old Robert Shane Hughes, he entered a guilty plea to robbery at Mold Crown Court and received a six year and eight month custodial sentence for assault and possession of a knife.

Following the incident, the family of the victim, who Mr Hughes punched, threatened to stab and left "traumatised", contacted the police's control room thanking the local officers for their quick and effective response in dealing with the incident.

Mr Jaggard, who is temporarily out of force and unavailable to comment, received the award at the North Wales Police Awards on November 27. It was handed to him by JP Audrey Fletcher, former member of the Police Authority. The award is given annually to an unarmed officer who has shown outstanding courage.

Commending the constable for his fast actions, chief superintendent Wayne Jones said: “PC Jaggard was supported by his fellow officers and within six minutes from the initial alarm call, the offender was arrested. PC Jaggard subsequently located the weapon and the proceeds of the robbery.

“The offender pleaded guilty to robbery at court and received a substantial custodial sentence.

“Following the incident, the family of the victim contacted the control room thanking the local officers for their quick and effective response in dealing with the incident.

"PC Jaggard displayed a great deal of bravery in this incident and this has been formally recognised.”