The Queen has honoured a police dog handler for bravery after he tackled a knifeman during a siege.

PC Antoni Smith has received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery, one of the highest awards a police officer can receive, for his role in the siege in December 1998.

Battle-based PC Smith, 51, along with his dog, Prince, was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene of the siege at a flat in Hastings. A man armed with two knives was holding a woman and two children, aged three and five, hostage at the address, where his former girlfriend lived.

The knifeman's ex-girlfriend managed to flee the home after he broke in by climbing up a drainpipe and smashing a window. However, her two children and a female friend were trapped inside. He threatened the children and the woman and then held a knife to the woman's body, putting his other hand around her neck.

A police spokeswoman said: "As the man's frustration increased he issued an ultimatum and it seemed he would begin causing physical harm to the hostage.

"PC Smith shouted for the man to drop the knife and without hesitation charged at him, striking the man's hand with his baton and knocking him away from the woman. He then forced the man to the ground, managing to get the knife way and restraining him."

PC Smith, who had already received a Chief Constable's commendation for his actions during the incident, said: "He started counting down from ten, when he got to five I decided to act."

Prince, PC Smith's dog, died last year after an illness. His new dog is called Ruger. The knifeman later pleaded guilty to a charge of false imprisonment and two charges of threats to kill and actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

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