Award for sex case inquiries; CRIME: Policewoman praised for helping nail a paedophile.

Byline: Jasbir Authi

A BIRMINGHAM police officer who helped convict a paedophile who made a teenager pregnant and then married her before grooming another 14-year-old for sex, has won a prestigious policing award. Det Con Joy Hobson helped jail paedophile Stuart Glenn Johnson in 2006.

Johnson, then 43, was told he would stay in prison for the protection of the public.

During the 2006 hearing, Det Con Hobson was praised by the trial judge for the highly professional way in which she conducted the "extremely difficult and sensitive" inquiry.

Det Con Hobson, who is based at Sutton Coldfield, was awarded the Excellence in Performance Award at the West Midlands Association for Women in Policing annual awards by Assistant Chief Constable Suzette Davenport.

She won the award for her outstanding investigative skills when dealing with historic sexual offences, the sensitive way she dealt with victims and her role as a family liaison officer.

Last year, Det Con Hobson also helped a male victim who had been subjected to a number of serious sexual assaults more than 35 years ago.

The investigation resulted in a man being arrested and charged with 26 serious sexual offences. She has also volunteered to be the single point of contact for Sutton Coldfield in relation to rape and other sexual offences.

Det Con Hobson said: "Thank you for this award.

"Thank you to my supervisor, Det Insp Shaun Edwards, and my crew at Sutton Coldfield CID for helping me to do my job well."

Chief Supt Jim Andronov, commander at Sutton Cold-field station, said: "The professionalism, dedication and effective response consistently displayed by Det Con Hobson, especially in relation to the investigation of serious sexual offences, is a credit to herself and her level of service."

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Honour: Det Con Joy Hobson receives her policing award from the West Midlands force's Assistant Chief Constable Suzette Davenport.