THE daughter of a murder victim is convinced the killer could have struck again but for the quick thinking of a police switchboard operator.

Dawn Sladen, who works for Derbyshire Police, has been honoured for keeping a cool head under pressure when taking a 999 call from murderer Richard Barlow.

Barlow admitted to Ms Sladen he had just battered to death his aunt and uncle, Bill and Joyce Barlow, pictured right, at their scrap yard, in Ashbourne Road, Uttoxeter, on October 26, 2007.

And earlier this month, Ms Sladen received a special commendation at the force's annual awards ceremony for the professional and calm way she handled the emergency.

Now Joyce's daughter, Anne West, has joined the police in praising Ms Sladen.

She revealed how Ms Sladen kept Barlow talking as other members of the family arrived after the double murder and before police arrested the killer.

The 38-year-old, of Princess Road, Uttoxeter, said: "We are really pleased to see that Ms Sladen has been honoured and that she was able to force the confession which proved vital as evidence.

"Without her guidance to Richard, three people could have been killed that day."

During the 20-minute conversation, Ms Sladen got the exact location and details while colleagues from Staffordshire police were sent to the address.

The call was only terminated when Barlow was arrested.

Ms Sladen, aged 40, said: "I don't know what went through my head, I was just doing my job. I was just the lucky, or unlucky, one who picked up the call."

It is the second honour Ms Sladen has received. She was among a group of award winners to be invited to be publicly thanked by Staffordshire's High Sheriff Graham Stow last year.

CCTV at the scrapyard captured Barlow bludgeoning his elderly relatives to death with a metal shaft in an outpouring of rage as a feud over land erupted.

After the killings, the 29-year-old, of Heath Road, Uttoxeter, went to feed geese on his uncle's property before dialling 999.

Judge Simon Tonking recommended that Barlow spend at least 25 years behind bars for "a most brutal attack on two much loved and well respected people".

But Anne admitted she is still bitter about the way the police handled the case.

The mother-of-two added: "We feel that mum and Bill were very let down, both before and after the murders. If we could see this coming, I don't know why the police didn't."

The Post & Times reported last August that an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into claims officers ignored pleas for help from the two pensioners had cleared the force.