By Staff Reporter

Last updated 13:02, Wednesday, 03 December 2008

Three brave Carlisle teenagers who saved the life of a throat-slash victim and then helped trap the man’s knife-wielding drunken attacker have been commended by the Queen.

From left, Callum Jenkinson, Luke Bowman, High Sheriff of Cumbria Graham Lamont, Judge Peter Hughes QC and Jamie Little outside Crown Court

Their public spiritedness, courage and selflessness was hailed as “an example to us all” by a judge as they received one of the highest honours in the land at the city’s crown court yesterday.

Callum Jenkinson, Luke Bowman and Jamie Little – all aged 14 – received their award from Cumbria’s High Sheriff Graham Lamont, the Queen’s representative in the county.

In front of three judges, several senior police officers, court staff and members of their families tThey each received a formal citation from Mr Lamont on behalf of Her Majesty and a reward of £200.

The court heard how they went to the assistance of Clive Oliver, after 36-year-old vagrant Archie Morrison attacked him in broad daylight near West Walls in February.

While Jamie, of Longsowerby, comforted the stricken man and tried to stop the flow of blood from a gaping wound to his neck, Callum, of Raffles, and Luke, from Denton Holme, dialled 999 and helped the police find his attacker.

Judge Peter Hughes QC said the boys could easily have pretended they had not seen the man being attacked, but instead probably saved his life.

He added: “They could easily have walked away and avoided any involvement in what was taking place but they were made of sterner stuff.”

“They went across to Mr Oliver who was lying stabbed on the ground. It was not a pretty sight.”

Mr Lamont told the boys such commendations – presented “on behalf of the Queen” – were “given only to special people who undertake special tasks”.

Afterwards Callum described how he and his friends were walking on West Walls when they saw Mr Oliver being attacked.

He said: “We saw the hobo standing over this bloke. He slit his throat, picked up his stuff and walked off.”

He described it as “the scariest day of my life” – but more because of his high-speed ride in a police car looking for the attacker than because of what he saw happening to Mr Oliver.

“The stabbing didn’t scare us, but going in the police car did,” he said. “It was flying round the corners. Really scary.”

In September, Morrison – described as a homeless alcoholic with a fascination for knives – was jailed for eight years after admitting wounding Mr Oliver with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Morrison lunged with the blade at his victim, said to be an acquaintance, after first kicking him in the head when they argued after a drinking session. Sentencing him, Judge Hughes told Morrison that the injury he inflicted could easily have led to his victim’s death.He described the rise of knife crime as something which was “of great public concern”.