TWO Swindon police officers who disarmed a man as he tried to hammer a kitchen knife into his own chest have been honoured.

PCs Gary Wells, 29, and Beverley Pitchford, 41, have each been presented with the Chief Constable's Certificate of Commendation.

The officers, based at Swindon Central police station, were on patrol in Swindon in a marked police car last November when they responded to calls about a domestic incident in Penhill.

PC Wells said: "We arrived at the house and found the front door open and no one on the ground floor.

"We went upstairs and, on entering the main bedroom, found a woman in her 20s laying face down on the bed.

"A man, who was also in his 20s, was sitting at the end of the bed and we could see more than 30 pills scattered all over the floor."

PC Wells said the man told the officers the woman had taken an overdose.

"The woman then sprang into life," said PC Wells. "She screamed she wanted the man out of her house at which point he produced a kitchen knife and started to try to stab himself in his chest."

It was in that split second that the officers leapt into action.

"We just saw the man trying to harm himself, looked at each other, and went in there to stop him," said PC Pitchford.

PC Wells, who wasn't wearing an optional protective vest at the time of the incident, grabbed the man's knife arm while PC Pitchford grabbed the knife and threw it out of reach.

As the officers worked in unison to handcuff the man, they saw two other knives on the floor, which they also kicked away.

At one point PC Wells thought he had been stabbed himself, but realised later it must have been the handle of the knife catching him mid-tussle.

"We were prepared to deal with this man who was harming himself," said WPC Pitchford.

"He was breaking his skin with the blade and we thought enough was enough."

Following medical attention the man was arrested to prevent a further breach of the peace and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment, having taken a number of anti-depressant tablets.

Both officers said they were very proud to receive their accolades.

PC Wells, who has been based at Central police station for five-and-a-half years, has previously received a Divisional Comman-der's Commendation for arresting a man who was assaulting a woman.