Cameron pays tribute to brave officer

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute yesterday tothe "unbelievable guts" of a police officer who made the "ultimate sacrifice" when he died in the line of duty.

By The Newsroom

Published 19th Oct 2010, 01:05 BST

Updated 19th Oct 2010, 01:08 BST

Mr Cameron laid a wreath, during a memorial ceremony for police officer Gary Toms, in Leyton, east London, at a service attended by many of the officer's colleagues.

Pc Toms, 37, of the Metropolitan Police, suffered severe head injuries as he tried to stop suspects in Leyton, east London, following a robbery in Dagenham on April 11 last year. He died in hospital from head injuries on April 17.

Unveiling a memorial in Ashlin Road, the dead-end street where Pc Toms fell and hit his head after getting out of his vehicle, Mr Cameron said: "We are here today because one day 18 months ago, Pc Gary Toms showed true bravery and made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Doing a job like that takes unbelievable guts, it takes dedication and it takes real courage. Gary Toms had those qualities in abundance."