A RETIRED police officer who helped put a wanted paedophile behind bars has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Before retiring at the end of March, DC Craig Wilson worked for North Yorkshire Police for 30 years, serving with CID in York and as a community beat officer for the University of York.

During is decades of service, Mr Wilson carried out work on a paedophile inquiry involving internet grooming, which resulted in the offender receiving a 19-year sentence.

In his final posting on the burglary squad, Mr Wilson helped to arrest several local burglars, leading to 25 per cent reduction in house burglaries from the previous year.

To mark his achievements, Mr Wilson has been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the prestigious Jane’s Police Review Gala Awards.

North Yorskhire Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell said Mr Wilson set an example to his younger colleagues right up to the last day of service. “Craig has been a model professional who carried out the job with the greatest of pride and efficiency,” he said Sgt Sarah Bestington, who covers the Westfield, Woodthorpe and Dringhouses wards in York, has been nominated for The Community Police Officer of the Year Award She has enjoyed a long career in the police, spending 16 years with West Yorkshire force before moving to York in 2006. In her 18 months on the safer neighbourhood team in Westfield, she started a series of monthly meetings with local residents and community groups to tackle crime. A force spokesman said: “Sarah has captured the attention of the senior management team with her enthusiasm and professionalism. Her determination and drive is unquestionable.”

PCSO Tracy Brown has been nominated in The Community Police Officer of the Year Award for her community work in Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside. Mr Maxwell said: “Tracy Brown is the reassuring presence, the listening ear, the encouraging partner that the public and agencies respect and has done a lot to raise the feelings of safety and security.”