TWO police officers who tracked down a dangerous sex offender and a police community support officer who rescued an elderly man stuck in a ditch have received awards.

Durham Police’s chief constable, Jon Stoddart, visited Stanhope, in County Durham, yesterday, to present commendations to the three officers.

PC Kelly Hawkes and her now retired former colleague, Frank Hewison, who now runs a chocolate shop in the Weardale town, received their awards for their investigation into Ian Malcolm MacGillivray.

The 63-year-old, from Stanhope, was jailed for four years in January after being found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl, dating from the 1990s.

He also admitted seven charges relating to downloading and possessing indecent child images and five counts of extreme pornography.

The two officers started their investigation into MacGillivray four years ago after a local parent raised concerns about his links to youth groups, and his tendency to donate gifts or money not only to the clubs, but some of the young people.

The officers then received information that MacGillivray had also been the subject of similar allegations in the Hampshire area, where he lived before relocating to County Durham.

The two officers worked with the force’s information manager, Leigh Davison, and Detective Constable Dave Rooney, from Crook CID, to build up the case against him.

Sergeant Dave Lyall, from Stanhope neighbourhood policing team, said: “This was a long and difficult investigation into an evasive and manipulative offender.

“The team’s work brought justice not only to the families of potential victims in Weardale, but also to a victim and her family from many years ago in Hampshire.”

Police community support officer Tracy Bilton will receive a commendation after she came to the aid of an elderly man who had been stuck in a ditch for more than an hour and a half.

The eagle-eyed officer spotted the 86-year-old when she was a passenger in an unmarked police car in Quebec, near Durham City, in February.

The victim had become trapped after losing his footing while stepping out of the way of a truck.

Sgt Lyall said: “Given the circumstances and geography of the area, the likelihood of this gentleman being found were remote.

“Tracy’s awareness and insistence have clearly saved this man’s life and her professionalism provides an admirable example of first class police work.”