A team of Metropolitan Police officers who displayed outstanding courage and team work when faced with a violent suspect who brutally attacked two of them have won London Police Bravery Awards.
On 30 June 2025, PC Adrienne Parmenter (pictured centre) and a colleague were called to an address in Sidcup where a neighbour had reported a man assaulting his mother.
The man was nowhere to be seen, so the officers went into the flat with the mother to collect her belongings. But before long the suspect arrived home.
PC Parmenter recalled: “He was immediately aggressive, he definitely didn't like police officers in his house. He was shouting at us, telling us to get out of his house, calling us all of the names under the sun.
“My hand was on my PAVA spray, but he was the biggest man I've ever seen, very muscly, and his demeanour was so aggressive that I thought if I sprayed him, he could either lash out at me and my colleague, or it would go in our eyes.
“So I stepped away and called for more units on the radio, and then went back in the room with my colleague and she took her handcuffs out. I tried to get one of his arms behind his back, and that's the last thing I remember.”
The man had punched PC Parmenter several times, causing significant lacerations across her face, after which she lost consciousness. The man then kicked her in her face.
He also punched her colleague in the head; she stumbled and fell to the floor unconscious too. He stamped on her head, causing significant injuries.
PC Parmenter came round and tried to intervene in this brutal attack, but the man hit her again.
PC Benjamin Gregory (pictured left) and PC Jake Lodge arrived in the middle of this chaotic and disturbing scene.
They apprehended the dangerous man, getting him to the floor and getting handcuffs on him.
The officers then found their colleagues lying on the ground covered in blood. PC Lodge kneeled on top of the suspect to keep him from running off, while PC Gregory administered first aid to the two injured officers.
He opened the airways of the unconscious and unresponsive female officer, allowing her to breathe and undoubtedly saving her life.
PC Gregory said: “I've gone to lots of jobs in the eight years I've been on the response team and I've seen lots of different stuff, but nothing can quite prepare you for turning up and seeing two people that you know really well in a really bad state, with some really serious injuries. It knocked me for six. I've always been super confident in this job, but this was very scary.”
He paid tribute to the courage of his injured colleagues, saying: “They're so brave to have stood their ground with a man that large. They are both proper heroes.”
PC Parmenter said: “If it wasn't for Ben and Jake, I genuinely don't think that myself and my colleague would be alive.”
An ambulance took PC Parmenter and her colleague to hospital. PC Parmenter had severe bleeding from a deep laceration above her lip, which required stitches.
She also had a large lump to her forehead, two black eyes, bruising to her face and a torn rotator cuff to her left shoulder. She continues to have limited mobility in her shoulder and is undergoing physiotherapy for her injury.
Her colleague suffered multiple serious injuries and was admitted to the major trauma ward for eight days before being discharged. Both officers are suffering from trauma-related amnesia and have limited memory of what happened.
The officers’ sergeant, Sgt Karen Cundy, travelled to the hospital to support them. She responded compassionately in the aftermath of this traumatic incident and provided constant guidance, reassurance and emotional support to all those affected.
Sgt Cundy also reached out to the officers’ family and friends in her own time, to support them too, and liaised with dozens of service providers to ensure her colleagues’ needs were met.
On 26 September 2025, the perpetrator of the attack attended Woolwich Crown Court, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced to 12 years – eight years in custody and four on licence – for GBH against the two female officers. The judge said it was one of the most harrowing assaults against officers he had seen.
PC Parmenter, who has recently returned to work after eight months’ recovery, said: “I don't want to let him stop me living my life. I'm happy to be back with my amazing colleagues, and I'm excited to get back out there again and do my job.”
Metropolitan Police Federation Chair Paula Dodds said: “Adrienne and her colleague displayed outstanding bravery and selfless dedication during this brutal attack. Despite sustaining serious injuries, both officers tried to protect one another, showing exceptional teamwork under pressure.
“Benjamin and Jake demonstrated impressive quick thinking, courage and composure to detain the suspect and save their colleagues’ lives.
“Karen supported the whole team on the day and through the difficult months that followed, prioritising their wellbeing and making a real difference to them and their families.
“We are so proud of them all.”
PC Parmenter, PC Gregory, PC Lodge and Sgt Cundy will attend the London Police Bravery Awards 2026 on Thursday 26 March.
At the event three overall winners or teams will be announced, and they will attend the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.
The Gold sponsors of the London Police Bravery Awards are Police Friendly & Metfriendly, Axon, and Officer Insurance Cover, by Everywhen.
The Silver sponsors are Slater and Gordon Lawyers and JMW Solicitors; and the Bronze sponsors are Police Mortgages, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Accord, THB Solicitors, the National Police Healthcare Scheme, Uniform Mortgages, Addept, No1 CopperPot Credit Union, No5 Chambers, Blackfords and Penningtons Manches Cooper.
