Marlborough detective is given award (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Marlborough detective is given award

10:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in News

Detective Sergeant Debie Ellender, deputy leader of a police team who brought serial rapist Jonathan Haynes to justice, received a commendation from the trial judge.

Haynes, whose victims included teenagers in Chippenham, was given an indefinite jail sentence.

DS Ellender is based at Marlborough police station with the Wiltshire force’s Major Investigation Team. She received her commendation from Chief Constable Brian Moore at a Wiltshire Police awards ceremony at the Devizes HQ on Tuesday but said afterwards that it was not for her personally but for the entire team of officers involved.

She said the investigations were difficult because of the sensitive nature of the allegations and that by pleading not guilty Haynes forced his victims to give evidence.

“Initially it was a very difficult investigation because his victims were so traumatised,” said the 47-year-old, who has been in the Wiltshire force for almost 20 years.