FIVE years ago Mandi Coles was sat behind a desk in a bank.

Now having helped put youths heading into lives of crime back on the straight and narrow, freed junkies from their addictions and sniffed out organised crime on her beat, Police Community Support Officer Coles has been nominated for a national award.

Mandi has become a regular fixture on the Stratton beat, and earlier this year uncovered a cannabis factory after acting on concerns raised by local residents in Kipling Gardens, Upper Stratton.

Drugs officers seized thousands of pounds worth of extra strength cannabis plants from a factory hidden in the sleepy cul-de-sac in February after Mandi picked up on a comment from a neighbour.

The raid lead to police cracking an organised crime gang operating out of Swindon.

Later this month, Mandi will join police colleagues from across the country at the prestigious Jane’s Police Review Gala Awards.

PCSO Coles was nominated for the Community Support Officer of the Year Award by Inspector Mark Sellers and Sgt Madge Lynch.

“I’m very chuffed,” she said after hearing she had been nominated.

“My mum said it is like being nominated for an Oscar.”

In 2006, PCSO Coles helped teenager Chris Singleton, who was regularly linked to antisocial behaviour, realise his ambition of joining the army and is currently working with a recovering heroin addict to help him stay clean.

“I helped get him into the army,” she said. “That was a couple of years ago now. He’s left the army now but still keeping himself out of trouble.

“The older lot are turning 21 now. I still see them around and they say hello, even if I’m not on duty, just out shopping or something.

“I’ve been working with one addict to help him get housing. I’ll call him up every so often, check he’s alright and offer him support.”

Despite her ability to sniff out a crime at a hundred paces, Mandi said she would never want to become a full blown PC.

“I like being in the middle,” she said. “I suppose I’m a bit like an auntie figure. If people want help they can come to me knowing I’m not going to arrest them, but at the same time I can try and help make the neighbourhood a safer place.”

Mandi, who previously worked for Lloyds and Zurich, has set up a number of schemes to encourage youngsters in the Stratton area stay away from crime.

She regularly visits schools, organises football matches between police officers and local youths, and has started a weapons box system so youngsters can hand over knives without fear of prosecution.

Insp Mark Sellers praised Mandi’s work. “She deserves this award because simply she is one of the most dedicated officers I have encountered in 20 years of service,” he said.

“She has worked tirelessly in the heart of her community since joining and her value can easily be measured by her visibility and the positive impact she has had.”