A librarian showed nerves of steel when she faced down a 'We stand with Christchurch' Hundreds take to streets in anti-racism march in Glasgow, allowing her colleagues and members of the public to be evacuated.
Cool-headed Sandra MacLean has been honoured for her actions when the man laid what appeared to be a handgun in front of a fellow worker.
Sandra calmly ensured staff and library users were able to get out.
As the alarm was raised, the 63-year-old bravely went back inside to check the man was still sitting at a computer.
Sandra, who is supervisor at the library in Fort William, checked no one else was in the building before leaving through the back door, then went around the building and locked the front doors.
The suspect was unable to leave as police responded and put the library on lockdown. Michael Kucera, 26, was arrested for brandishing what turned out to be a plastic BB gun in May 2017 and later jailed for 18 months.
Sandra, who had no way of knowing the gun was a replica, was yesterday presented with a police public bravery award.
'We stand with Christchurch' Hundreds take to streets in anti-racism march in Glasgow
She said: “In many ways, I don’t feel like I deserve an award but that in no way diminishes my gratitude for it.
“What I did at the time didn’t feel especially brave, it was simply the obvious thing to do to make sure the library was clear of people and that nobody else could get in.
“Receiving the award puts that whole day into perspective with the wider police investigation.
“I would certainly like to thank the officers for how they handled the situation when they arrived.”
Sandra received her scroll from Highlands and Islands divisional commander Chief Superintendent George Macdonald.
He said: “Sandra’s calm and professional response to an undeniably frightening situation helped ensure the immediate safety of the public and her staff.”
Before the library incident, Kucera had stolen a 30ft yacht from moorings and ran it aground after drinking a bottle of rum on board.
After he was arrested and treated in a psychiatric hospital, he returned to the town, walking into the library and holding a replica gun.
He later admitted theft by shipbreaking, culpable and reckless conduct, possessing offensive weapons and behaving in a threatening manner.
