The quick-thinking of a former policewoman won her an official commendation for her efforts in helping catch a man who had killed his girlfriend.

Brigitte Robson, 40, was awarded the Divisional Commander's Certificate of Commendation at a special presentation at Weetwood Station yesterday.

She was recognised for her efforts on January 31, 1998, when she worked the night shift as a customer service assistant at Leeds Bradford Airport.

On that night she spotted Stephen Tillett, 31, sitting in the arrivals lounge with blood on his hands and behaving oddly. She questioned him and then called the police.

Brigitte, who was a Special Constable at the time, said: "As soon as I saw him I knew I was going to phone the police.

"He looked as if he was on drugs but it didn't cross my mind that he had just killed his girlfriend. He said he was waiting for his girlfriend to come in on a flight from Spain but there were no flights due in. I knew then that he was up to no good."

When the police arrived they accepted Tillett's excuse that he had cut his hands on barbed wire and gave him a lift back to Eccleshill, Bradford.

But four days later he was arrested when the body of mother-of-two Janine Dolecki, 40, was found at her home in Granton Street, Bradford, after friends reported her disappearance.

Tillett was a friend of Mrs Dolecki and had been living with her at the time.

A trial at Bradford Crown Court in March last year found Tillett guilty of manslaughter and he was sentenced to six years in jail. He had suffocated her and cut her throat.

Chf Supt George Robinson, of Weetwood Police, said: "Had it not been for Brigitte's actions the job may have gone undetected for a lot longer.

"Her input was considered invaluable.

"These awards are not given out on a regular basis. They are given to members of the public for the work they have done supporting the police. They have shown great citizenship and we try to reward that."

Brigitte, who has worked at the airport for more than 16 years, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon about the award. Even if I didn't get this commendation I know I did the right thing by ringing the police.

"I knew that something was wrong and I was very concerned so I had to act on it. It was the right thing to do."

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