A POLICEMAN who caught a violent thug twice in one day during a "Benny Hill-style" showdown received a bravery award this week.

Sutton PC Alex Law's "bizarre" face-off with villain Gavin Thomas began with an arrest in a loft being used as a hideout – ending with a dramatic chase hours later when Thomas escaped from an ambulance.

PC Law, 31, said: "The whole thing was like a sketch out of Benny Hill. But he had to be caught. He was a real danger to the public."

The drama began when the PC visited a house in Wolseley Road, Hackbridge, where a woman, believed to be an ex-partner of Thomas, was reportedly at risk from a wanted man.

After searching the property the officer of 11 years found Thomas – who had threatened to kill people with a samurai sword – cowering under loft insulation.

PC Law said: "As soon as I found him he came out fighting and said 'I'm going to kill you, I'm going to spray you'.

"I'd taken my bullet and stab-proof vest off so I jumped straight out of the way and hurt my elbow badly."

Two officers waiting outside helped to arrest Thomas, of Corbet Close, Wallington, who was taken to Sutton Police Station where he later claimed to have swallowed a large quantity of Class A drugs.

However, the claim was just a "ploy" to escape and after being taken to St Helier Hospital in an ambulance, he broke free as it pulled up at A&E.

But brave PC Law led a 15-minute chase down Wrythe Lane and Thornton Road to apprehend the criminal for a second time.

He said: "I was being driven to the hospital later that day because I decided to get my elbow checked out. At this point I didn't know he was going to be there.

"But as we were pulling up outside A&E I saw an ambulance's back doors open and the guy ran out in handcuffs and started running down the street.

"At the time I thought, 'is this really happening?' but I just went straight after him and caught him down the road as he tried to avoid arrest again by hiding behind a car.

"It's definitely up there with the most bizarre incidents I've been involved in.

"The way he was discovered and the chances of catching someone twice in a day are pretty slim."

Thomas, recalled to prison after breaking licence restrictions, is now back behind bars while PC Law received a bravery award on Wednesday for his part in the June 2011 incident. A police spokesman said: "To have caught a person twice in a day is bizarre."

Supervising officer Jon Wrightson said: "This is a typical example of PC Law's dedication to going the extra mile when arresting suspects.

"He is always willing to lead from the front and acts as an inspiring example to all his colleagues."