‘We faced Southport Killer Shoulder to shoulder’

Warning: This article has upset and disturbing details.

“None of us knew the same thing when we turned that there was a child on the floor on Heart Street, who was stabbed and the criminal was in the building.”

SGT Greg Gillespie could not be prepared for the incidents of 29 July 2024, which claimed the lives of three young girls.

Called a dance studio in Southport to report a stabbing, he arrived at a revelation scene in the horror.

“I remember the road people waving me down,” he said.

“I could only see the form of fear and terror in the faces of the people there and then got out of the car and used to hear them screaming and screaming.”

SGT Gillespie said he saw a little girl, whom he thought he had died.

She managed to survive despite stabbing more than 30 times.

He said, “I don’t think there is any amount of training or experience that can prepare you to deal with something in this way or process it.”

PC Luke Holden, who arrived some time later with PCSO Timothy Parry, said he remembered listening to his colleague’s words on his radio.

He said, “The way he spoke, confirming the address and the scene … I could only hear like a terror in Greg’s voice,” he said.

SGT Gillespie said that he decided in a moment that he had to deal with what was happening in the building.

“We just knew the right thing that we could not wait for the armed response back-up,” he said.

“We didn’t know where they were [but] This was necessary.

“Everyone now knows the sequence of events that occur on that day – which was not known to us at that time.”

He said that they all knew that a child was stabbed and “the criminal was in the building”.

PC Holdon clearly remembered what happened next.

“Greg looked at me and said ‘Are you ready?”

He said that he responded with a simple “yes” and then the pair went to the building “shoulder to shoulder”.

Almost immediately, he was face to face with 17-year-old Axle Rudakubana, who was unaware of the authorities, moved to the studio and attacked children who were enjoying a school holiday taylor Swift-themed workshop.

“He was showing us a knife, it was in front of us, stained with blood,” SGT Gillespi said.

“It was almost the same as he was saying, ‘I got a knife, what are you going to do?” ,

SGT GILLESPIE said that the attitude of the youth was changing, as if he saw that the officials were “not afraid of him, he did not want to know”.

SGT Gillespie said, “It would be quite difficult to paint him already as a coward, but I think I say a lot for me.”

Alice, Agus, Nine, Babe King, Six, and Elsey dot Stancomb, seven, were killed in the attack, while eight other children and two adults were seriously injured.

The 17 -year -old was responsible for those deaths and injuries Sentenced to life with minimum 52 years For murders in January.

The horrors of the day have essentially left an indelible mark on the city, but its residents have united together, determining that the atrocities were not allowed to define their house.

SGT Gillespie said it was much less than that response.

“The functions of the parents of community victims have come together mostly, which are no less than inspirational,” he said.

“As a father, something like this is thought about happening with a child and then the next morning to get up and try to move forward with his life.

“But three sets of parents have not only done so … they have continued the legacy of their daughters’ names and have brought the community together.”

All three were officers England and Wales are recognized at the Police Federation of 2025 Brevari Awards For their works on the day.

He said that the attack has changed them.

“This affects you in ways you don’t imagine,” said PC Holden.

“My hyper-conversion increased by 1,000% and I was careful with everyone in every situation.

“You start thinking the worst matter about every situation that you deal with.”

PCSO Parry said it was “quite difficult” to return to normal life, trying to do activities with his child, and see others to see others of the same age, “it was difficult for me for some time”.

“Obviously, it is nothing that families were involved and going to go through things, but it was a challenge.”

SGT GILLESPIE said that the incidents of July 29 last year “the most difficult experience of my life, never kept my career in mind”.

But, he said, compared to the families of the slain children, “our pain and suffering is the smallest decline in the largest ocean than them”.