Schoolteacher among Sussex bravery award winners (From The Argus)

Schoolteacher among Sussex bravery award winners

4:30pm Wednesday 6th July 2011 in News By Ben Parsons

A deputy headteacher has won a bravery award for confronting armed robbers who hid in her school.

Sue Smith, of Vale First and Middle School in Findon Valley, Worthing, approached a man inside the school and managed to direct him away from the classrooms to the front of the building, where police were waiting.

She was one of four Sussex residents to be rewarded for their bravery by the Association of Chief Police Officers last night.

Mrs Smith acted after Dominic Mendy and Danny Palmer, both from London, turned up at the school on Monday, March 22 last year.

They had fled from police after robbing a security van at gunpoint at Tesco in Chichester.

Mrs Smith said: “I am extremely honoured to have been nominated for this award.

“At the time of the incident I did not consider my actions to be especially brave, my first and only thought was the safety of all the pupils and staff in my care.”

Mendy, 31, was sentenced to serve at least four years and Palmer, also 31, received a fiveand-a-half year minimum term.

Three people who tackled robbers in Rye were also honoured at the National Public Bravery Awards.

Susan Jenner and Maria Swain acted quickly when robbers attacked Friar House Antique Jewellery in Battle, near Hastings, on Friday, September 17 last year.

They grabbed metal poles and set about robber William Smith from Kent so hard they bent the metal.

Passer-by Gary Lucas helped keep Smith there until police arrived.

Smith, 31, was jailed for six years and Leon Holder, 21, from Kent, for seven years.

Superintendent Neil Honnor, of Sussex Police, said: “The brave actions of these four members of the public helped Sussex Police capture and convict some dangerous robbers carrying out criminal activity in the county.

“I commend and thank them for the ways in which they helped to make Sussex a safer place."