By Officer stabbed by on-the-run killer Daniel Boulton nominated for bravery award
A police officer stabbed in the line of duty by an on-the-run double murderer has been nominated for a bravery award.
PC Stephen Denniss from Lincolnshire Police was walking his dogs in Louth in June last year when he spotted Daniel Boulton.
Boulton, who is currently serving at least 40 years in prison, was on the run after murdering his ex-partner Bethany and her young son.
PC Denniss saw Boulton approaching a woman in a field, fearing he would “attack or rob her” the officer decided to confront the killer.
After a chase, Boulton pulled out a knife and demanded PC Denniss’ phone.
In an earlier interview with the BBC, PC Denniss said Boulton had tried several times to stab him in the stomach, but ended up stabbing the top of his left thigh.
“I didn’t consider that I was putting my life at risk,” the officer said.
“I just saw one of the most dangerous offenders I have come across in my almost 20 years of policing and knew I had to do something.”
PC Denniss continued to chase Boulton despite his injury, before he was captured by armed police at a nearby farm.
During Boulton’s murder trial, the judge commended PC Denniss “for his bravery in seeking to arrest Boulton while off duty and without any back-up or regard for his own safety in order to protect members of the public”.
Helen Stamp, Chair of Lincolnshire Police Federation, said: “PC Denniss’ actions demonstrate that he showed tremendous courage in tackling a man whom he knew had committed such atrocious crimes, putting the safety of the public before himself.”
The National Police Bravery Awards ceremony is due to be held in London in July.
