Royal award for hospital worker after BRI replica gun scare

Security Officer, Dean Priestley was awarded a bronze medal for bravery from the Royal Humane Society and presented a certificate signed by its president, HRH Princess Alexandra, for his act on October 17, 2020.

Adil Akksar, 27, of Cleveland Road, Manningham, Bradford walked through Bradford Royal Infirmary’s (BRI) A&E department into the X-ray area but was escorted out by staff as he did not have an appointment.

He returned to the X-ray waiting area, demanded “give me a f***ing X-ray now” and then drew out a gas-powered BB-gun before pointing it in the face of a hospital porter and then at his own head.

The porter thought he was going to be shot dead, Bradford Crown Court heard on April 1, 2021.

Dean Priestley, 41, of Bradford with his bronze medal and certificate (Image: BRI)

This is when Mr Priestley, a 41-year-old former volunteer in the Army Reserves, stepped in, despite him not being aware the gun was a replica at the time.

He had been called to the scene by A&E staff and approached Akksar, calmly asking him to hand over the gun.

Akksar complied and was eventually arrested by armed police.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm, namely a gas-powered BB gun, with intent to cause fear of violence, at that crown court hearing on April 1, 2021.

He was imprisoned for 14 months by Recorder Peter Hampton who said hospital staff should feel safe and protected at work.

Mr Priestley, who joined Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT), which runs BRI, in 2009, said he was “humbled and a little embarrassed” at receiving the award.

He added: “I was just doing my job and wanted to keep the situation as calm as possible.

“Serving in the Army Reserves gave me experience with weapons.

“With situations like this, you have to assume that the weapon is genuine and it was only when he handed it to me that I could tell it was a replica because of the weight.

“But you cannot take the risk and I was concerned for colleagues and patients as this is a busy area.

“After the man handed over the gun, I asked him to sit down beside me and just kept talking to him to keep him calm until the police arrived.

“I did have sympathy for him as he was very distressed.”

Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

The 41-year-old lives in Bradford with his partner Becky, 18-year-old son Jacob and nine-year-old daughter Georgia.

He revealed he was shocked to discover that he was going to receive the bronze medal - introduced in 1837 and awarded to “people who have put their own lives at great risk to save or attempt to save someone else” – and insisted it was a “team effort”.

BTHFT Director of Estates and Facilities, Mark Holloway said: “Dean’s actions and bravery is a credit to the Trust’s security team, who work day and night in keeping our sites safe and secure.

“Dean acted above and beyond with professionalism and bravery, putting the safety of colleagues and patients before himself.”