A woman who went to the aid of a child trapped in a filthy car has been given a bravery award.

Tracey Purcell was walking past the Mariner pub on The Stade in Folkestone in the summer of 2013.

A friend had alerted her to the frightened young girl in the car, where the male driver was slumped over the wheel. Instead of walking on, Ms Purcell went to her rescue.

Now Ms Purcell has been given the High Sheriff of Kent Award and earned the praise of a judge.

Although she was unable to attend the ceremony at Canterbury Crown Court – ironically because her own child was unwell – Judge Heather Norton read out the citation.

“I looked at the paramedic who was treating her dad. He looked at me and we both shook our heads in disbelief” - Tracey Purcell

She said: “In the rear of the car was a very young child, who looked very frightened. Many people might have gone on their way, troubled by what they had seen but not wanting to get involved.

“But Ms Purcell did not do that. She noted the child looked dirty, the inside of the car was filthy and there was bedding and clothing piled up.”

After failing to get the driver’s attention, Ms Purcell spent “considerable time and attention” to gain the child’s trust.

The judge said she coaxed the child into revealing that the driver was her father and she had been taken away from her mother in breach of a court order.

She also revealed how the child said she hadn’t eaten for a week and had stayed in a tent and the car which smelled of bonfire smoke. Ms Purcell later told police: “I noticed she was restless and fidgety.

She seemed a little agitated.

“I said ‘It’s okay I’m here’. And then she said: ‘Will you stay with me please?’

“And I said ‘of course, I will for as long as you want me to’,” she added.

The child then revealed details of horrific sexual abuse at the hands of a stranger.

“It also restores our faith in humanity because it brings a balance to all the wrong-doing and indeed evil that we see on an almost everyday basis”- Judge Adele Williams

Ms Purcell recalled: “I looked at the paramedic who was treating her dad. He looked at me and we both shook our heads in disbelief.”

The judge added: “The child was also able to reveal her father’s drug taking and where the drugs were concealed.”

Paramedics and police were alerted as Ms Purcell continued to give the frightened child “much needed comfort, compassion and encouragement for more than an hour”.

The judge said as a result of her actions she had helped bring two men to justice, adding “and for not walking on by, I commended her for this award”.

Earlier Canterbury’s senior judge, Adele Williams, had said she and her colleagues looked forward to attending High Sheriff award ceremonies.

“That’s because we are recognising bravery and public spiritedness on behalf of citizens.

“It also restores our faith in humanity because it brings a balance to all the wrong-doing and indeed evil that we see on an almost everyday basis.”

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