Christine Butler - December winner
During January and February 2003 a series of robberies took place in various parts of the city.
The victims were ladies who were in their 70s and 80s. Some of them were frail, and all were vulnerable. The robberies took various forms and included not only the threat, but also the use of actual violence. The robber might be free today had it not been for the public-spirited actions of two ladies, then unknown to each other, who became involved on separate occasions.
They were able to give help which, taken together, led to the arrest of the robber who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment.
Christine Butler was walking in Radford Road on 13 January 2003 at about 9.30am when she heard a female voice scream. She saw a man running towards her carrying an object under his jumper.
She saw the man get into the driving seat of a car that had been parked with the door open and the engine running. The car sped off but not before Christine had been able to take part of the registration number.
She helped the victim and reported what she had seen to the police. Later Christine attended an identification parade, identified the robber and made a statement to the police.