A mum of one who helped protect her neighbour from a violent abuser who lunged at her with a knife has been honoured with a police bravery award.
Zoe Brown, 24, stepped in to protect her partner Matthew and their neighbour from a man who would drag a woman down the hallway by her hair and then attempt to stab two innocent bystanders.
She said: “I still don’t know where my strength came from.
“All I could think about was the poor woman who needed help and my little boy sleeping inside my flat.”
Zoe was enjoying a quiet night in with Matthew when she heard a commotion outside, where a man claimed to be locked out.
She let him in but later heard arguing and shouting and, looking out, saw the man dragging a woman along the hallway by her hair.
They rushed out to help and Zoe pushed the attacker off the woman.
Seconds later he returned holding a three-inch knife, lunging at Matthew but Zoe tackled the man to the ground and restrained him until police arrived.
“On the day, everything happened so quickly that I didn’t really have time to think about what I was doing,” Zoe said.
I just did what anybody would do when someone needed help and I would do it again if I had to.”
Zoe has now has received a Chief Constable’s Commendation from Greater Manchester Police and is helping the force to mark International Women’s Day.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “International Women?s Day, more than ever, is the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements of women that live in Greater Manchester.
“Zoe showed such bravery during this incident, selflessly coming to the aid of a woman who desperately needed help by first stepping in to get her to safety and then by calling us.
Greater Manchester’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Jim Battle said: “It was an honour to meet Zoe at the awards ceremony last week and I was struck by her humility and selflessness.
“She is a courageous lady, who instinctively acted to help someone in need without a thought for herself.
“That is the embodiment of human kindness and community spirit and, as we celebrate International Women?s Day, we should all take inspiration from Zoe’s brave act.”
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