A DETECTIVE has spoken about the terrifying moment a suspect held a gun to his head.

Det Con Craig Wallace, of Bury CID, wrestled Adrian Taylor to the ground after he threatened him and colleague Det Sgt Chris Jameson when they called at his Bury home.

Now, the officers have been awarded a Chief Constable’s bravery award for their actions.

Det Con Wallace said: “It’s nice to be recognised, but we were just doing our job.”

At 5.30am on March 12, the officers were visiting Taylor’s house in Lonsdale Street to question him in connection with another incident.

Taylor answered the door and immediately pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at Det Con Wallace.

The 31-year-old, who is married with three children, said: “It was a surreal moment, my mind went blank and I was like a rabbit in the headlights.

“He was muttering all kinds of threats but I was just focusing on the gun, waiting for a bang.”

After a short while, Det Sgt Jameson, who was standing to the left of his colleague, shouted “police” and Taylor retreated inside, slamming the door shut.

“It was only when Chris shouted that he panicked,” said Det Con Wallace.

“I wanted to go in and confront him but Chris wouldn’t let me. Then Taylor came out and started charging at us with clenched fists in the air and we knew he still had the gun. He was fighting with us and wouldn’t surrender so we had to pin him to the ground.”

Taylor was arrested and a gas powered pistol together with seven grammes of cocaine, valued at £200, were recovered.

On Friday, Taylor, aged 27, was jailed for four years at Manchester Crown Court. He was given three years for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and one year for possession of cocaine with intent to supply after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

Det Con Wallace said: “I think it’s a fair sentence. The judge has sent out a clear message that gun crime is not to be tolerated.

“The real effect has been on my family. It’s difficult to reassure them that everything is going to be okay when I’m working nights.”