PC honoured for helping man overcome trauma of stabbing
May 1 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail
TWO police officers were honoured for their professionalism and dedication after a stab victim praised them for helping him overcome the trauma of the attack.
Defenceless Carl Machin was stabbed in the back by a teenage girl who tried to rob him in full view of Birmingham city centre’s hi-tech CCTV cameras.
Mr Machin said the incident last July initially shattered his confidence and left him with flashbacks.
But the 28-year-old is now back out and about after PC David Bunce walked him around the city centre to help him regain his confidence.
Mr Machin, an insurance worker, last night presented awards to PC Bunce and his colleague PC Nick Swift in thanks for their dedication to duty.
They were among more than 100 officers, PCSOs, special constables and police staff, who work in Birmingham city centre, to be honoured for their bravery, dedication, professionalism and hard work at a special awards event yesterday.
“It was really good of PC Bunce, what he did was really important to get me used to being back in the city centre again so I could get on with every day life again,” said Mr Machin.
“It gave me back my confidence to go out and about again. I love my wrestling and I can travel to all of the shows around the country again because of what PC Bunce did. I’m so grateful to him.”
Mr Machin was stabbed during an attempted robbery by two 17-year-old thugs in Cherry Street, near St Philip’s Cathedral, as he was heading home after a night out.
The female attacker was last November sentenced to five years’ detention and her male accomplice was given three years and ten months after admitting robbery and wounding charges.
In a letter to chiefs at Steelhouse Lane police, Mr Machin praised the officers for their ‘superb efforts, compassion, friendliness and empathy which helped him during the first traumatic hours’ after the stabbing.
PC Bunce, from Steelhouse Lane CID, said: “It’s satisfying to get this award but we’re here to provide a service to victims of crime. We have built up a bit of rapport and it’s good to see him able to go back to work.”
FOR MORE ON THE AWARDS
SEE TOMORROW’S MAIL
