A POLICEMAN who single-handedly disarmed a violent knifeman is in line for a bravery award after his courage was commended by a judge.

PC Richard Pendlebury, who lives in Bury, was sprayed in the face with CS gas and threatened with a knife after Paul Vita ran amok through the streets of Prestwich.

Father-of-one Vita, high on a cocktail of drink and drugs, told the lone officer: "You're going to get it," and repeatedly lunged at him with the weapon. PC Pendlebury (30) chased 25-year-old Vita until he managed to restrain him on the ground before back-up arrived.

It was only then that the officer noticed slashes to his protective body armour, which had saved him when the knife made contact.

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Judge Bernard Lever said the incident must have been a "terrifying" experience for PC Pendlebury.

After listening to a tape of the officer's live account of the incident as it unfolded, Judge Lever said: "In my judgement, PC Richard Pendlebury behaved with great courage and bravery in very difficult circumstances.

"He should be publicly commended and the chief constable should be informed."

Vita, of Buxton Lane, Droylsden, pleaded guilty to affray, possession of a prohibited weapon and an offensive weapon, possession of a controlled drug, and handling.

He was jailed for two years after the court was told by his defence lawyers that the incident occurred when his beer was spiked with drugs without his knowledge.

PC Pendlebury, who is based at Whitefield police station, was unhurt but was badly shaken and required four days off work to recover.

Outside the court, the constable, a serving officer for ten years, said: "It was the most frightening incident I have been involved in due to the ferocity and persistence of the defendant.

"My only concern was that if I didn't stop him he could have killed somebody. I hadn't realised that the knife had made contact with me until afterwards, which was really shocking. Luckily my body armour protected me."

Prosecutor Mr John Chaplin told how PC Pendlebury was called to a disturbance in Prestwich on the afternoon of December 1, last year.

Neighbours had reported a man acting suspiciously, peering in windows and knocking on doors.

When the officer arrived Vita fled, shouting: "You want it, come and get it" before spraying gas in the officer's face. Though his eyes were stinging and his vision was impaired, PC Pendlebury gave chase into Kersal Road, but Vita lashed out with a lock-knife.

Vita ran away and the officer gave chase again, drawing his baton to detain the knifeman, but Vita sprayed the officer with the CS gas once again and lunged at him with the knife, before fleeing.

PC Pendlebury struck Vita with his baton and pursued him into a garden, where he managed to strike Vita on the shoulder and knock him down before he was restrained.

Vita had 257mg of cocaine in his pocket. He also admitted handling an £8,000 Citroen Saxo, stolen from a burglary in Chorlton.

Defence counsel Miss Louise Kitchen said Vita had begun acting strangely after drinking the concoction of drugs which was added to his beer as a "prank" by friends.