A brave police officer risked being consumed in flames when he stopped a young woman setting fire to herself.

Quick-thinking PC Steven Wilson was covered in lighter fluid as he wrestled a cigarette lighter from the woman who had doused herself in the accelerant on the forecourt of Chelmsford Police Station.

He could now be in line for a commendation for his speedy reactions which possibly saved her life.

PC Wilson, who lives in Maldon, saw the woman, a patient at the psychiatric unit at the Linden Centre, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, douse herself in lighter fluid as he sat in the police help desk office at the New Street station.

PC Wilson, 28, grabbed a fire extinguisher, sprinted out of the building and jumped on the woman as she reached into her handbag for the lighter.

He said: "She had her hand in her handbag which undoubtedly had a lighter in it. I dropped the fire extinguisher and jumped on her, I grabbed her hand which held the lighter.

"I was covered in lighter fluid. I had to take my shirt off. Three or four officers came out to help and we got the lighter off her and sat her down."

A statement from the North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said the woman was a patient at the Linden Centre, Chelmsford, and has now returned to a ward there.

PC Wilson could be in line for a commendation for his bravery.

He said: "The service desk supervisor and duty sergeant have both filed reports and are considering a commendation."

Brave officer - PC Steven Wilson By Matt Forster

Reporter's e-mail: matt_forster@thisisessex.co.uk

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