A “stubborn git” police officer who was punched in the face by a man she later arrested is up for a top police award.

PC Katie McGloin was chasing the criminal in Slough in April 2019 when he swung at her and connected with one hard punch to her face.

But this did not deter PC McGloin from pursuing her target as she continued to run after the man before eventually wrestling him to the ground and arresting him.

Now she is up for a Thames Valley Police bravery award.

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Commenting on the nomination, PC McGloin said: “I think it’s just stubbornness and determination and a bit of personal pride because you just think, ‘I don’t want them to have one over me’.

“It’s nice to be recognised. I think there’s a lot of people every day out there who are doing exactly the same. I would do the same again, but there are definitely people out there that have been a lot braver than me.

“For me, it wasn’t bravery; it was just me being a stubborn git, really!”

The incident occurred when PC McGloin pulled the man over in a cul-de-sac.

A check on his vehicle indicated he had no insurance.

However, he got out of his car with a can of lager before running off towards some houses.

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During the police pursuit through residential gardens -- including one garden where a family was enjoying the warm weather -- he punched the officer.

The assailant made it to a busy road before wading across a river, which exhausted the man.

This allowed PC McGloin to make it across the river and catch up with him.

Despite warnings, the man would not stop and the police officer fired two taser cartridges into the man.

He managed to pull them both off, however, but PC McGloin incapacitated him with her CAPTA spray.

Back up teams arrived and the man was taken into custody.

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PC McGloin said she was determined and ‘stubborn’ not to let the man get away with his assault on her.

“I just didn’t want to let him get away. I think at the point where he’s swinging his arms, and he’s hit me, I just thought, ‘I’m not going to let you win this battle’,” she said.

“His probation officer contacted me after it happened and told me he said had he known how determined I’d been, he just would have stopped straight away.

“He said, ‘I’ve put myself through all of this, and she still got me’. He sent an apology through his probation officer for leaving me with bumps and cuts.”

The offender was charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker, driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 42 days in prison.

Thames Valley Police Federation Chair Craig O’Leary said PC McGloin’s nomination was well deserved and she showed true grit and determination to make the arrest.

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Craig said: “Katie represents the best of Thames Valley Police officers, running towards danger to keep the public safe. She was relentless that day; there’s no way this guy was going to get away from her despite the assault.

“She says it stubbornness, but it was bravery too. We’ve very proud of Katie, and she’s a very worthy winner of a Thames Valley Police Federation Bravery Award. Many congratulations.”

PC McGloin will attend an Awards Ceremony in the Thames Valley Policing area on September 9th, where an overall winner will be announced.