ONE of the heroic police officers who saved a man from his burning home was the victim of a terrifying firebomb attack two years ago, the Argus can reveal.

PC Dave James, 34, (pictured) suffered horrific burns to his neck, arms and face when a tearaway teenager threw a petrol bomb at the Bettws police station, Newport, on May 3, 2000. Despite that, he and two colleagues went into a burning house in Glassworks Cottages, Crindau, on Friday and rescued Martin Lewis.

And today, local councillor Noel Trigg is calling for PC James to receive an official commendation after the police officer overcame the ordeal to help 41-year-old Mr Lewis. Councillor Trigg said: "I will be writing to him to congratulate him on his actions, and would be happy to nominate him for an award."

And he added: "What they did takes some doing." PC James was finishing his patrol shift on May 3, 2000 when 15-year-old White threw the homemade petrol bomb at the police station.

The officer was enveloped in a ball of flame, and needed treatment at the specialist burns unit in Swansea's Morriston Hospital.

After his arrest, the teenager said: "Bettws police think they rule this estate. They don't. I have just had enough. They think they are on top."

PC James needed counselling following the attack, and suffered from panic attacks and sleepless nights, Cardiff crown court was told.

The teenager was locked up for four years in a youth detention centre after pleading guilty to reckless arson and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

After undergoing that, PC James' actions are all-the-more heroic, his bosses say. Bettws Inspector Dave Johnson said: "What he did last week is remarkable after what happened to him, but he is a very modest and self-effacing officer who just gets on with his job."

PC James, PC Mark Morgan and his Bettws colleague PC John Jefferies , who was also on duty at the time of the Bettws firebombing, were called to the fire in Glassworks Cottages, Crindau at 2.45am on Friday.

The three officers forced open a back door before crawling through the thick black smoke, finding Mr Lewis unconscious on the kitchen floor, and with multiple stab wounds. Mr Lewis is at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, where he is in a stable but critical condition.

A 25 year old Newport man, Shane Ross Thompson, was due to appear before Cwmbran magistrates today charged with attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life and theft, in relation to the incident.