A POLICE officer who helped stop an ETA terrorist has been rewarded for his efforts at a special ceremony in London.

Robert Cowper (pictured) and Willie Gauld led the operation which tracked and arrested Benat Ordonez in Edinburgh in July 2012.

Ordonez was accused of being part of the Basque separatist group ETA, which has campaigned for independence from Spain.

Last Friday, Mr Cowper, 52, attended the Spanish Embassy in London to receive one of Spain’s highest awards.

Mr Cowper, from Broadgait, Gullane, and Mr Guild were presented with Spain’s police merit cross at a ceremony which was attended by the Spanish ambassador and the head of the country’s Guardia Civil.

Mr Cowper, now retired from the police, said information had come to the attention of the police which alerted them that Ordonez was living in Edinburgh.

The information was confirmed and Ordonez, who had been working as a van driver, was arrested outside a pub on Leith Walk.

Mr Cowper said: “We think he was here for about 10 years and was just a normal individual going about his normal every day business – other than the fact he was a wanted terrorist at large.” The father-of-two was proud to receive the honour but stressed it was the culmination of hard work from a lot of different officers.

He described it as “an honour” not only for himself but all those who had been involved.

He added: “Although, I will be accepting the award I will be doing so on behalf of the team in the branch and other units involved in the arrest at the time.” Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “Police Scotland is delighted that Robert Cowper and Willie Gauld’s diligent work – and, indeed, the work of all the officers involved – was recognised when they received Spain’s police merit cross.

“This is a very prestigious award and one that was certainly well deserved, and all the more significant as it was it was the first such ceremony held by the Spanish in the United Kingdom.

“Benat Ordonez was wanted by the Spanish and French authorities in relation to his involvement with the ETA terrorist group prior to him moving to Scotland.

“Excellent work by both Willie and Bob led to his arrest and return to Spain in 2012.”