Four police officers who tackled a chainsaw-wielding attacker after he had dowsed them in petrol received bravery awards yesterday.
They were nominated for subduing James Aitken as he went berserk in Whitecraig, East Lothian, last year. Aitken had cut his way into the home of his neighbour before attacking a police patrol car with the saw and setting fire to a van in the street.
Constables Gordon Millar, Andrew Robertson, Avril McGowan and special constable John Neilands finally overpowered the 34-year-old with batons and CS spray as he tried to set them alight.
Police dog Dex, a two-year-old German Shepherd, and his handler Constable Edward Smith also received an award at the Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Awards ceremony in Edinburgh.
The dog helped catch a violent Romanian gang member, who had been attempting to "skim" bank details at an automatic teller, by hanging on to him and not letting go.
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