A PCSO who was sent flying from his cycle by a suspected shoplifter quickly remounted to chase the offender for 20 minutes despite not knowing that his ankle had been broken when he fell off.

Cambs Times: PCSO Terry McCormack. Picture: Steve Williams.PCSO Terry McCormack. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

A PCSO who was sent flying from his cycle by a police suspect quickly remounted to chase the offender for 20 minutes despite not knowing that his ankle had been broken when he fell off.

Terry McCormack eventually caught his man but only realised his ankle had been broken when he checked himself into hospital later that evening.

“I don’t think what I did was a big deal - I was just doing my job,” he said.

Inspector Robin Sissons, head of Wisbech Police, described his actions as “outstanding”.

Mr McCormack was injured when the man he was attempting to intercept on Churchill Road, Wisbech, knocked him off his bike and sped away.

But instead of staying down he got straight back on his bike and pedalled after the man for 500 yards before cornering him in Prospect Place.

The man tried to scale a fence but Mr McCormack caught him and kept hold of him until other officers arrived.

“At about 2.50pm on Friday I received a radio message with the description of a man we wanted to talk to.

“I saw a male matching that description so I called it in.

“When officers approached the man he took off so I tried to intercept him on my bike. I had no intention of manhandling him but he ran straight through me and knocked me off my bike.

“Adrenalin kicked in so I got back on my bike and pursued him.

“All I was interested in was chasing him down. I followed him for about 500 yards and then dragged him down as he attempted to climb a fence.

“He was biting, kicking out and spitting at me but I held on to him until fellow officers arrived.”

Mr McCormack returned to the police station and filed a statement before being taken to North Cambs Hospital in the evening, where he was informed he suffered a fractured left ankle.

He said: “I could not walk on the ankle but I thought it was just sprained.

“The adrenalin had worn off so I was in so much pain and I was reluctant to take my boot off because of the swelling.

“A fellow officer said I had to go and get it checked out and drove me to hospital, where I was told it was fractured.”

Mr McCormack, 61, who has patrolled Wisbech streets for 10 years, has been told by doctors to rest for six weeks but he hopes to be back at work performing light duties within a fortnight.

He has received many messages of support from fellow officers.

He said: “I’ve had loads of texts wishing me a speedy recovery and saying well done, which is nice.

A man has since been charged with assault.

* Last month it was reported that a Wisbech police community support officer who disarmed an axe wielding woman “and sat on her until other officers arrived” is to receive a bravery award.

PCSO Lisa Mann was called to North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech following reports of a disturbance and discovered a woman with an axe threatening to kill a doctor.