Hero cops confront 'aggressive' knifeman during Rotherham Fed-ex office stabbing horror

Two heroic South Yorkshire policemen have told how they confronted and disarmed a knifeman before desperately trying to save his mortally wounded victim.

PC Phillip Stead and his colleague, PC Richard Cousins, were the first on the scene after the incident at the Fed-Ex office in Hellaby, Rotherham. They found the man still armed with the knife, being kept inside a room by terrified colleagues.

PC Cousins had only been working in the police response team for 18 week when he was called to a report of a disgruntled employee being aggressive towards work colleagues.

As the offiicers entered the office, shortly after 10am on November 2, 2022, it immediately became clear that a very serious incident was underway.

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The suspect had already stabbed a man three times and was now shut in a side office. Members of staff were barricading the door with their bodies to stop the suspect escaping.

PC Stead called on his radio for assistance and advanced on the suspect, drawing his Taser and ordering FedEx staff members to move behind him for their safety.

PC Stead recalled: “Next thing I knew, a knife came through the safety glass of the office window.

“I drew my Taser and my mind was spinning. I was thinking: ‘What do I do? I’ve got a guy in a room with a knife, and I’ve got an injured party.’ So I issued challenges with the Taser, to the point of pointing the Taser through the hole in the window.

Taser

“All the time I was thinking: ‘If I shoot through the hole in the glass, I’ll be connected by wires and then I can’t then go into that room. Plus I’ve got a student with me.’”

Thankfully the suspect obeyed PC Stead’s commands before he had to use his Taser, and eventually dropped the knife. PC Stead then directed PC Cousins to handcuff and arrest the suspect.

PC Cousins said: “PC Stead used his tactical communications really well; he kept the suspect red-dotted, but his communication was so good that he didn’t need to use his Taser to get him to put the weapons down.

“I put gloves on to prevent my fingerprints getting on any evidence, then I went into the office to retrieve the knives. I got handcuffs on the suspect, brought him out of the room and arrested him.”

Meanwhile the stab victim had collapsed, and PC Stead immediately ran over to assist another FedEx employee in trying to save the man’s life. They wrapped bandages around his wounds and started CPR. All the time, PC Stead was monitoring PC Cousins and the suspect.

PC Stead and the staff member continued CPR until further officers and paramedics arrived. The paramedics and ambulance heart team continued to treat the victim, but tragically he died of his injuries.

Later it was found that the suspect had a hammer down his trouser leg, as well as the two knives he was carrying.

In November 2023, the suspect appeared before court and was convicted of murder, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and three counts of possession of an offensive weapon. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years.

Both officers have now been named winners of a South Yorkshire Police Federation bravery award.

On hearing that he had been nominated for the award, PC Stead said: “It was out of the blue, I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m happy to be acknowledged.”

PC Cousins said: “It’s an honour to be recognised for what you’ve done, but I’d like to think any other officers would have done the same thing. Our main aim was to get control of the suspect, and for PC Stead to attempt to preserve life.”

‘Incredibly difficult, dangerous and dynamic incident’

South Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Steve Kent said: “Our colleagues Phillip and Richard faced an incredibly difficult, dangerous and dynamic incident – with an incredible amount of courage.

“The way they protected the staff members and worked as a team to disarm the suspect was exemplary police work, in what was an extremely tense and upsetting situation.

“They are very worthy winners of a South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Award.”

Steve added: “Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and colleagues of the man who died in the attack.”

PC Stead and PC Cousins will attend the South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday, May 23.

At the event a winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.