Man wins award for bravery (From Free Press Series)

Man wins award for bravery

A CHEPSTOW man has been honoured by police in Avon & Somerset for his bravery after stopping a violent attack on a woman.

Cardiff based solicitor, Peter Maynard, 39, was commended for his bravery and support of law and order after he came to the aid of a woman two years ago.

He was in Bath with his wife and her colleagues at their office in 2002, when they witnessed a man seriously assaulting a woman.

As Peter and the group crossed to help the woman, whose head was being banged against a car, the attacker turned on them.

He head-butted one of the group and as Peter and the rest of the group stepped forward to stop further assault, he was punched in the mouth. The attacker then fled the scene.

Avon & Somerset Police Constabulary have now awarded Peter with the Waley Cohen Award, which honours members of the public who have performed meritorious services in support of law and order in the County of Somerset.

Trying the case was complicated as the attacker had an identical twin brother, but the victim placed him at the scene and he was eventually given a three years prison sentence for Actual Bodily Harm.

"I was completely surprised to be given the award," said Peter. "I really didn't think that what I did warranted any sort of award - anybody would have done the same - but I'm delighted to receive it.

"As a solicitor, the law is something I naturally take very sincerely so winning an award for supporting law and order is a special honour for me. I'm only glad that I could help and that the attacker is now behind bars."

The Waley Cohen Award was set up in 1965 after the Somerset Constabulary received an endowment from local man Mr. M.H Waley Cohen. His family chose to set up the award in honour of the general public's services to law and order.