Reward for hero in flat gun drama
Published: June 9, 2006
A modest hero who stepped in to wrest an air rifle from a suicidal neighbour who was threatening a police officer has been rewarded for his quick thinking.
As reported in the Evening News in January Terry Dickens, 50, coolly took the gun away from the man after calming him down.
His wife Linda Dickens, 50, said if he had not been there to defuse the situation somebody could have been killed.
Mr Dickens’ heroics were rewarded this week when he picked up a certificate and £200 cheque from the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Nigel Savory at the offices of Grant Thornton in Holland Court.
Mrs Dickens, who works for Archant accounting services division, said: “I was really proud of him. The certificate now takes pride of place in our front room.”
The couple married last month and intended that the cash would go towards their honeymoon in Jersey.
But that trip was spoilt when their plane ended up returning to Norwich as the captain was unable to land due to poor weather conditions. The cash will now be used to pay off the money they lost.
Mr Dickens, a cleaner with One railways in Norwich, said at the time that he was not being heroic.
His position has not changed, and he said today: “It was just a spur of the moment thing. But we had a lovely day on Monday.”
The Evening News reported in January that Andre Soppitt, 53, pointed a rifle at PC David McCormack when he went into the flat in Richmond Court, Yarmouth Road, Thorpe St Andrew.
Mr Soppitt, who suffered from agoraphobia and depression and was upset over the break-up of a relationship, refused to open the door but Mr Dickens, who also lives in the flats, let him in.
They were faced by Mr Soppitt holding a gun to his shoulder pointing it at the policeman.
When he got out and took cover, Mr Dickens stayed talking to Mr Soppitt, negotiating, and persuaded him to hand over the gun, which he then gave to PC McCormack.
Mr Soppitt appeared for sentence at Norwich Crown Court after admitting possessing an air rifle with intent to cause PC McCormack to fear violence would be used against him on August 7 last year.
After hearing Mr Soppitt had been mentally unwell at the time and had taken sleeping pills to commit suicide, the judge gave him a 12-month prison sentence suspended for one year. Mr Soppitt still lives in the same flats.
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