A BRAVE Landford distraction burglary victim has been honoured by Wiltshire's police chief.

The county's top police officer, Dame Elizabeth Neville, presented 74-year-old Jean Cox with a chief constable's 'certificate of appreciation to a member of the public' award at Wiltshire police's Devizes HQ last Friday morning.

Jean's special award recognises the work she did in alerting the public to the dangers and effects of distraction burglaries can have on people.

After the presentation a modest Jean remarked: "I feel honoured but I don't think I am worthy of it. I did what I did to help prevent other people from being victims. It was not very nice to lose the sentimental things that I had. I was full of anger at the time, but now it's hurt."

It was on Monday, January 15th 2001, that Jean fell victim to a distraction theft while acting as a Good Samaritan. All Jean's family heirlooms and cheque books were stolen from her Salisbury Road home at Landford.

Jean was washing her car in the driveway of her home when she was approached by a teenage boy of Mediterranean or eastern European origin. He asked the unsuspecting pensioner if she could find his little sister-who he claimed lived in the area. All the time the offender was talking to Jean he made sure her back was turned towards her house. This prevented Jean from seeing his accomplice or accomplices who slipped into her home and robbed her jewellery valued at several thousand pound. This included her engagement ring given to her by her late husband. Jean's mother's engagement ring was also stolen along with other family rings and valuables.

Immediately after the robbery - a brave and very angry Jean issued these wise words "don't trust anyone." She said at the time that it was a "dreadful" thing to have to say. The distraction theft was one of a series across south Wiltshire and west Hampshire and many fell victim. Jean agreed to talk to the media in the hope that it would prevent other people from the same fate.

Wiltshire police spokesman Dave Taylor said: "It is unusual for a victim of a distraction burglary to speak to the media, most are too frail or frightened. But thanks to some excellent dialogue by WPC Lynne Carter (the former Landford beat officer, now based at Wilton), Mrs Cox said she was prepared to be interviewed.

Since that time no other victim has been willing to be interviewed and Mrs Cox has been approached several times to be re-interviewed, a task she has been happy to undertake."