Stabbed off-duty PC to receive King's bravery award

PC Steve Denniss said he was "no Bruce Lee", despite tackling a double-murder suspect

An off-duty Lincolnshire police officer who was stabbed by a double murderer has been included on the King's first Civilian Gallantry List.

PC Steven Denniss, 44, from Louth, was walking his two dogs when he spotted wanted killer Daniel Boulton and attempted to detain him.

The officer was stabbed in his left leg, but managed to raise the alarm and chase down Boulton until he was apprehended.

Boulton was jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years for the murder of his ex-partner and her autistic son in May 2021.

He had travelled 28 miles (45km) on foot from Skegness to Louth in order to fatally stab Bethany Vincent, 26, and Darren Henson, nine.

Boulton led Lincolnshire Police on a manhunt until the following day, when he came across PC Denniss in the Hubbard’s Hills area of Louth.

The officer said he was "no Bruce Lee" and described the dogs, Cooper and Zorro, as “absolutely useless”.

"They just ran with me because it all looked like a big game," he added. "They didn't even try to bite his arm while he was stabbing me."

PC Denniss was not wearing protective gear, but managed to avoid Boulton's attempts to stab his upper body.

The officer, who described himself as “very competitive”, explained how he managed to carry on after being stabbed in the leg.

He said: "When everything is going on, adrenaline is pumping, that's just a natural instinct.

"You just turn it into something where he's not going to beat me, I'm going to win, no matter how long I have to run for, climb fences for, I am going to get this person."

The King's Gallantry Medal acknowledges exemplary acts of bravery. The year's list is the first to be approved by the King.

PC Denniss said he felt overwhelmed to be included, but his thoughts remained with the victims and their families.

"If I could go back in time and Bethany and DJ were still alive and I never had to come into contact with him, never had to chase him and never got a medal, I'd be happy with that,” he added.

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