Schoolgirl stood up to bus thug

Proud moment . . . Melissa is handed her award by ACPO president Sir Hugh Orde

A COURAGEOUS schoolgirl who stood strong in the face of a violent thug has been honoured with a national bravery award.

Melissa Faulkner (15) was presented with a silver medal at the Police Public Bravery Awards run by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

She was awarded the prestigious gong after her heroic efforts on the top deck of a 59 bus in Shaw in February.

The North Chadderton pupil selflessly put herself between two men, one of whom had punched the other in the face without provocation.

The attacker and his friends jumped off the bus after Melissa, aged only 14 at the time, stopped them in their tracks.

She later provided a witness statement which assisted the police investigation that subsequently saw the thug arrested and convicted of assault and a public order offence.

Awards secretary Chief Constable David Crompton said: “Every day people put themselves in harm’s way in order to aid others who are vulnerable or at risk and that’s not always just police officers.”

The latest accolade is not Melissa’s first experience as an award winner. She was the first in the borough to receive a community bravery award by head of Oldham Police, Chief Super Tim Forber.

Melissa, who lives in Springhead, was one of 21 silver award winners and seven gold winners from across the country at the ACPO awards for bravery.

Others honoured on the night at the Manchester ceremony included Colin Thomas, who was shot in the stomach while trying to prevent five men from taking £70,000 worth jewellery from a store in Croydon.

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