A PRISON officer who saved a female colleague’s life by pinning an enraged killer to the ground amid an attack with a broken bottle has been honoured for his bravery.

Neil Walker learnt of triple murderer Kevan Thakrar’s rampage in high- security Frankland Prison, near Durham City, when he heard fellow officer Alison Lewis’ screams and saw the prison walls and landing covered in blood.

With Thakrar chasing Ms Lewis down a corridor, Mr Walker confronted the killer, pushed him backwards by the neck and pinned him to the floor.

Mr Walker, who was wearing no body armour and had no time to draw his prison-issue baton, was slashed repeatedly with a broken glass bottle.

Thakrar stabbed him in the face, abdomen and the back of his head, leaving him permanently scarred and with a debilitating back injury.

Mr Walker, who was off work for four months, has now been awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

The citation said Mr Walker demonstrated “enormous courage” and restrained Thakrar “single-handedly”

until colleagues came to his aid.

Thakrar was serving at least 35 years for the drug-related murder of three men in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, in 2007, when he attacked Mr Walker, Ms Lewis and fellow officer Craig Wylde in March 2010.

He admitted lashing out but was cleared of all charges at a Newcastle Crown Court last year after claiming he was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder caused by alleged beatings by officers at another prison.

The verdict provoked widespread outrage. The Prison Officers’ Association is considering funding a private prosecution and police have investigated whether the jury had been tampered with. The case file is now with the Crown Prosecution Service awaiting a decision on whether to press charges, The Northern Echo understands.

Mr Wylde, the most seriously injured of the three officers, is leading a campaign for Thakrar to be re-tried, which has attracted more than 4,000 signatures.

He recently received a director’s commendation award for his bravery from the Prison Service.

Thakrar, who said he was deeply sorry for his actions, was transferred to Wakefield Prison following the incident.

Mr Walker did not respond to The Northern Echo’s request for comment.

Dave Thompson, Frankland governor at the time, said he was very proud of him.