The bravery of two men who tackled a knife-wielding robber in a Perth shop raid has been recognised.
At a ceremony at the Police Scotland Training College in Tulliallan, Chief Constable Sir Stephen House presented awards to 73-year-old Robin Rennie and Roy Benson, 64.
The pair had been nominated for the bravery awards for their actions on Thursday June 20 last year.
Mr Benson was working in his shop, Bensons Newsagents in Garth Avenue, when he was visited by Mr Rennie, who was there to deliver merchandise.
The men were chatting when they became aware of a teenager coming into the shop and loitering before leaving again.
A few minutes later, he re-entered the shop and made his way directly to the counter. Believing that the man was a customer, Mr Rennie stood back from the counter to allow Mr Benson to serve him.
The man then leaned on the counter and raised his right hand, in which he was holding a knife, and demanded money and alcohol from Mr Benson.
Mr Benson seized the man’s wrist and activated the personal attack alarm situated underneath his counter.
On seeing all this, Mr Rennie grabbed the would-be robber and both he and Mr Benson got him on to the floor. Mr Benson took hold of the knife and threw it out of the man’s reach.
The man began lashing out in an attempt to break free but Mr Rennie and Mr Benson had him pinned to the floor and he was unable to break their hold. Another member of the public entered the shop and was instructed to call the police and request urgent assistance.
The offender was subsequently sentenced to 30 months in a young offenders institution.
“Mr Benson and Mr Rennie showed tremendous courage in tackling an aggressive teenager armed with a knife,” said the chief constable.
“The knife used was a large, sharp, kitchen paring knife, which would have been more than capable of inflicting serious injury had it struck either party.
“With no CCTV at the premises, the detection of this crime could have been more challenging had Mr Benson and Mr Rennie not reacted as they did.
“Their actions ensured that a dangerous criminal has been prevented from committing further crimes, resulting in the community of Perth being a safer place.”