VIDEO: Hero teen honoured for tackling violent criminal
A teenage boy who rugby-tackled a violent criminal after spotting him assaulting two police officers in Britain has been honoured for his bravery.
Kiya Ingham, 16, floored the yob after seeing him kick out at and push over Pcs Lynsey Burkinshaw and Johanna Clarke after they had put him in a police car.
Kiya was walking past at the time in Lewes Road, Brighton, on June 10, but dropped his bag and chased the suspect.
The teenager tackled the man, later identified as Bradley Hughes, before Pcs Burkinshaw and Clarke struggled to restrain him with Kiya’s help.
Hughes, who was drunk, had been arrested following an allegation of a domestic-related incident, but he suddenly became violent after being placed in the police car.
The area was teeming with passers-by at the time but Kiya was the only member of the public seen to step in to help the struggling officers.
Sussex Police said Kiya was threatened and abused by Hughes but was “incredibly brave” and continued to help the Pcs regain control of him.
As one of the officers pinned Hughes down, Kiya stood in the road and calmly directed more officers arriving at the scene to their colleagues.
Both officers later thanked Kiya and recommended he receive an award at the Brighton and Hove police divisional ceremony.
Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, Brighton and Hove divisional commander, said: “Kiya received a huge cheer and round of applause from everybody at the event when the footage was shown.
“The incident shows how difficult and sometimes dangerous policing can be, so we were very grateful and moved that without hesitation he stepped in to help the police in such a situation.
“I also want to pay tribute to the way in which the two officers quickly regained control of the situation, despite the violence that was directed towards them.
“I and my team here thank him for his courage and selfless public service which helped us bring an offender to justice.”
YouTube footage showing Kiya’s heroics has been viewed more than 62,000 times.
Hughes, 31, of Pelham Place, Seaford, has since pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer, and received 100 hours of community service, Sussex Police said.
