12843/1TWO police officers who prevented a man from jumping to his death from the top of a fire brigade training tower in Devizes last December have been officially commended for their actions.

WPC Julie May and PC Ivor Noyce were called to Hopton Industrial Estate in the early hours of December 16 to deal with the man, later identified as 29-year-old Ross Grant, from Trowbridge, who was threatening to throw himself from the 75ft training tower.

Grant had tried to get into the nearby premises of Hayden's Bakeries where his former partner worked.

He appeared to be under the influence of drink or drugs and the two officers were horrified to see him clambering around the top of the tower with apparently no concern for his safety.

Grant had demanded that his ex-partner be brought to the scene and, while this was being arranged, both officers had used delaying tactics to distract the man from ending his life.

WPC May said: "He was swinging around like a chimpanzee and was in a very excited state.

"We were terrified he was going to fall down. It's a long way down and I don't think he would have survived.

"It was freezing cold and we had to keep talking to him until a team of trained negotiators came along two hours later."

PC Noyce added: "It is very difficult trying to talk to someone who doesn't want to talk to you. It was a very long two hours."

Even after the negotiation team arrived, the two officers stayed on to help.

Chief Superintendent Jerry Wickham, commander of the Salisbury division which takes in Devizes, presented both officers with certificates of merit at an award-giving ceremony last week.

He said: "There is no doubt that the initial and continued dialogue and actions of WPC May and PC Noyce until trained negotiators arrived at the scene greatly contributed to the successful resolution of this situation."

WPC May is the daughter of Jack May, who was an officer for more than 30 years, mostly in Calne.

He is immensely proud of Julie, whose great grandfather and great great grandfather were both policemen too.

He said: "Julie's actions on the night were very typical of her. She is a very level-headed, capable person and is good at keeping the peace."

WPC May lives in Calne and joined Wiltshire Constabulary 11 years ago. She was initially stationed at Chippenham police station and but has been based at Devizes for the last few years.

PC Noyce, who is stationed at Marlborough, comes from Amesbury and has also been in the Wiltshire force for 11 years after serving as a special constable in his home town for ten years.

Grant pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Kennet magistrates' court on January 14. He will be sentenced at Salisbury magistrates' court on May 14.