Confronting gunman 'the right thing to do', says ex-Birmingham cop

Nov 9 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

A RETIRED police officer blasted in the leg as he tried to disarm a gun-toting bank robber today told why he put his life at risk.

"It just seemed like the right thing to do," said have-a-go-hero Paul Weston.

"There was a security guard with a gun at the back of his head. It wasn't right. I thought somebody was going to get hurt, I just didn't think it was going to be me."

Mr Weston was queuing in the Great Barr branch of Lloyds TSB in August 2005 when he saw armed robbers behind a violent wave of attacks across the Midlands pounce on security guard Chris Wesson.

The unarmed grandfather-of-two raced outside and grappled with the gunman but the robber broke free and opened fire at point blank range, hitting the former chief inspector in the thigh and severing his femoral artery.

The incident took a terrible toll on Mr Weston's life. He suffered three heart attacks and was left with a severely damaged left leg.

The 63-year-old dad of two said: "I felt the splat on my leg and was immediately greeted by a spurt of red blood coming out."

Mr Weston retired in 1994 after a 30-year career with West Midlands Police.