A courageous policeman has told of the terrifying moment he and a colleague stared death in the face.

PC John Crosland and probationery officer Glynn Sunter - both based at Keighley - feared for their lives when they were confronted by a man wielding a sawn-off shotgun.

"I honestly thought we were going to die," says PC Crosland, 47, a father-of-three from Cullingworth. "It was one of the most frightening moments I have ever experienced."

He and PC Sunter, of Ingrow, who it can be revealed was on his first night's duty following training, knew nothing of what lay ahead as they answered a seemingly routine call to a reported domestic disturbance.

As they approached the address at Belle Isle, Haworth, in their patrol car a drunken man was waiting with a double-barrelled shotgun.

"He pointed the gun at my head - I could see the brass and I knew it was loaded," says PC Crosland, a firearms-trained officer with 28 years' service in the force.

"I tried to get out of the car but he kicked the door shut and shouted abuse and threats at me. He was just a few feet away and kept the gun levelled at my head. We couldn't escape so I talked to him for about five minutes and tried to calm him. Glynn managed to put out a radio call for assistance."

The two officers then grabbed an opportunity, when the man was distracted, to overpower and handcuff him.

This week Brian Uttley, 64, a Wild West enthusiast, of Belle Isle, Haworth, was convicted at Bradford Crown Court of five offences.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence, making a threat to kill PC Crosland, having a firearm with intent to resist arrest, possessing a firearm without a certificate and assaulting PC Sunter in the execution of his duty. He was given a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The judge, Alistair McCallum, praised both officers for their bravery and said they deserved a commendation.

He told the court: "They behaved not only extremely bravely but, because of the way they carried out their public duties, they avoided perhaps Mr Uttley being damaged by any team which might have been called in to try to deal with the matter."

In sentencing Uttley he said he had taken account of the fact that the man believed the gun was incapable of discharging and that on the night he had been drinking heavily.

PC Crosland, who has two 11-year-old sons and an 18-year-old daughter, says the incident has not deterred him from continuing with his police service. "I have seen many horrific things in my career - I was at the Bradford City fire in 1985 - and although they obviously have an effect, I have learned to handle situations," he says.

Opinion, page 10

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