PC famed for bike chase named Officer of the Year

PC Paddy Connell arrested a suspect after an "unusual" chase last year

A police constable who caught a car thief after swapping his patrol car for a passer-by's bike has been named South Yorkshire's Officer of the Year.

Footage of PC Paddy Connell chasing a man who had stolen a Range Rover Evoque in Rotherham was shared widely on social media in April last year.

After the Range Rover crashed, the suspect ran off and a member of the public offered PC Connell his bike, allowing him to continue the chase and arrest the suspect.

PC Connell, from the Roads Proactive Policing Team, also arrested a man who South Yorkshire Police said was their "most wanted burglar" after a pursuit in January this year.

Deployed stinger

During that incident PC Connell spotted a Suzuki Cross 4x4 in Penistone which failed to stop and resulted in a chase lasting almost half an hour.

During the pursuit, which went in and out of West Yorkshire, the suspect threw items - including a fire extinguisher - from the car.

PC Connell deployed a stinger just before a roundabout at junction 37 of the M1 as the suspect attempted to get onto the southbound carriageway of the motorway.

He managed to take the vehicle off the road before it reached the motorway and both men inside were detained, including the "most wanted" who is now facing a prison sentence.

In what South Yorkshire Police called a "strange" pursuit last April, PC Connell asked a suspect in a Range Rover to stop on Dalton Lane but instead the driver reversed down several roads, driving at 80mph in a 30mph area before crashing.

The suspect got out of the car and ran off, with the officer in hot pursuit - and an observer offered him his bike.

The 25-year-old suspect was eventually arrested in a garden on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

South Yorkshire Police said PC Connell was a "credit" to roads policing

Chief Inspector of Roads Policing Peter Spratt said: "We are immensely proud of PC Connell and the recognition he has received.

"He is an integral member of the team and has had so many excellent results with colleagues, bringing offenders to justice and making South Yorkshire safer as a result."

He added: "Our officers regularly put themselves at risk to protect the public, managing these incidents to a safe conclusion through tactics that require dynamic teamwork and skilful implementation of their training.

"Well done PC Connell, you are a credit to the department."

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