POLICE officers who have caught violent robbers and saved lives have been honoured by their divisional commander.

Weetwood commander Supt Francis Habgood last week awarded divisional commendations to police who he said had served the force well, either in apprehending wanted criminals, or protecting members of the public.

Among those recognised for their work, were officers who tracked down and arrested a Yeadon woman responsible for knife attacks on elderly people. A team of CID and uniformed officers who tracked down an armed robber who attacked Horsforth Co-op, were also recognised, along with another policeman, who rescued a man from a suicide attempt in Yeadon.

Supt Habgood told the officers: "We often deal with people in difficult situ-

ations, and sometimes we don't always get the recognition for our work. I actually get a lot of letters of thanks, and I make sure that you are aware of this. We are appreciated for that work."

Det Con Liam Walsh and Det Con Gary Hedges were commended for their part in catching a female robber who terrified elderly Yeadon residents in their own homes.

The officers were called out in November last year, after a 79-year old man was thrown to the floor in his home, and threatened with a knife. She repeatedly threatened to stab him, and when he tried to resist, he injured his hand on the knife. She got away with just £12 cash.

Two days later, the two officers were out on inquiries over another crime, when they heard of a similar attack on a 90-year-old man. The two managed to track down the suspect, and caught her with evidence of the crime.

She was later sentenced to 42 months in a young offenders' institution, after admitting the two offences, plus one other.

Efforts to hunt an armed raider who attacked Horsforth Co-op, on Broadway, in February this year, earned commendations for eight members of the Weetwood Division.

Supt Habgood said there had been a delay in beginning the investigation, but the officers who took on the job soon found the trail led them to a man in Harehills. They searched his house, and found not only the clothing the suspect had been wearing, but also a hidden gun and ammunition.

The man was later jailed for nine years, for a number of offences.

Commendations were awarded to Det Sgt Paul Todd, Det Con John Markham, Det Con John Price, PC Andy Simmen, WPC Sharon Larkin, Det Sgt Ian Green, Det Con Brian Topp and Det Con Eddie Scott.

A Royal Humane Society award was also been made to Weetwood officer who stopped a suicide bid when he was off duty. Det Con Sam Cariss was walking his dog near Leeds-Bradford Airport last December, when he came across a car with a hose leading from the exhaust through the sunroof.

He found a man collapsed in the front passenger seat. Det Con Cariss managed to break into the car, drag the man out and resuscitate him, before calling for medical help.