A FORMER Ottery police sergeant is to be presented with a prestigious honour at the chief constables award ceremony. Sergeant Nick Southern has served in Ottery, Exeter and is currently the Exmouth neighbourhood beat officer team leader. Sgt Southern will

A FORMER Ottery police sergeant is to be presented with a prestigious honour at the chief constables award ceremony.

Sergeant Nick Southern has served in Ottery, Exeter and is currently the Exmouth neighbourhood beat officer team leader. Sgt Southern will be presented with his award by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary chief constable Stephen Otter, and will be overseen by Lady Mary Holborow, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.

Nick Southern joined Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in September 1986 where he was posted to Bideford, in North Devon.

Completing his probationary period, he transferred to Exeter patrol where he expressed an interest in working on CID.

Sgt Southern completed the trainee detective programme and became a detective in Exeter where he served on the cheque fraud team, burglary team and general CID.

He was involved in some high-level inquiries, including the Kate Bushell murder and Ducks Marsh rape.

A Devon and Cornwall Constabulary spokesperson said: "Nick has always been a great advocate of sport for the force.

"He played many times for the British police rugby team, including matches against teams such as Australia and New Zealand.

"He is a former Exeter Chiefs rugby player and one of his claims to fame is being punched by England world cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio whilst playing for the Exeter Chiefs against Wasps - and it hurt!