A POLICE inspector and a sergeant who fought a life and death battle to save a crazed knifeman after he slashed his own throat following a double stabbing at a house in Stourbridge have been awarded top national bravery honours.

Inspector Steve Gordon and PS Jon Andrews from Dudley are both set to receive Royal Humane Society testimonials on parchment following the horror incident in Robin’s Close, Oldswinford, on October 31 last year.

They were called to the house after reports of a disturbance and when they arrived they found sisters Amy and Jessica Brooks suffering from stab wounds.

The officers were told the attacker was still inside the house with a baby and when they went in Insp Gordon and PS Andrews were confronted by John Loveridge, who was armed with a large knife.

Loveridge then slashed his throat from ear to ear before they convinced him to drop the weapon and began their fight to stop him bleeding to death.

In addition to the awards they are to receive the two officers also won the personal praise of Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

As he announced the awards at the society’s London headquarters he said: “This incident turned into a blood bath after the man slashed his own throat down to his wind-pipe.

“In addition to trying to stem the bleeding the two officers also had to fight to restrain the man who was bleeding heavily and seemed to be intent on his own death. Paramedics who attended the scene were in no doubt that they saved the man’s life. They said could not believe the officers had managed to stem the blood loss.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards, which have been made following a recommendation from West Midlands Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.

The Royal Humane Society, which dates back more than two centuries, is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.

Insp Gordon said of the award: "I feel highly honoured that the Royal Humane Society feels that what PS Andrews and I did that night warrants such a prestigious award. I am just thankful the victims and the attacker all made a full recovery.

"As a response inspector - for me the award represents all police officers, particularly response, who never know what they will be faced with, or deal with on a daily basis."

Loveridge, of The Steps, Harvington, Evesham, who carried out the brutal attack after a two-day drinking session, admitted wounding his former partner and the mother of his child Jessica Brooks and her sister Amy with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He also admitted possession of an offensive weapon and assaulting the grandmother of the sisters, Sylvia Titley, causing her actual bodily harm.

Back in May he was jailed for ten and a half years and Judge Nicholas Webb ruled he would only be allowed back onto the streets when the parole board deemed him safe.