A POLICE officer from Suffolk who rescued three people from their burning cars will be honoured with a top bravery award today.

Russell Claydon

A POLICE officer from Suffolk who rescued three people from their burning cars will be honoured with a top bravery award today.

Pc Stewart McIlroy will receive the Police Medal 2007 from the Royal Humane Society at a ceremony in Liverpool.

It will add to his Bronze Medal he received from the society last month at a presentation in London.

Pc McIlroy had been pursuing a suspect, James Ratcliffe, then of The Crescent, Great Horkesley, through Nacton village.

The 23-year-old failed to stop at the junction of the A1156 and the Nacton village turn off on January 13, 2006.

His Vauxhall Calibra crashed into a Seat Alhambra driven by 59-year-old Robert Parker causing both cars to burst into flames.

Pc McIlroy, with the help of passers by David Alberto and Terence Mizen, hauled the unconscious Ratcliffe through the window of the car. The officer also freed another woman and Mr Parker from the vehicles.

Ratcliffe was jailed for 64 weeks suspended for two years and banned from driving for five years at Ipswich Crown Court in September 2006 for a string of offences including dangerous driving.