FAKE hero Nigel Gallimore has finally handed back his bravery award after a court heard how his "heroic acts" had been made up.

The disgraced window cleaner basked in glory after being honoured in the Civilian Gallantry List, proudly showing off his Queen's Commendation for Bravery to friends and neighbours.

But an inquest heard how his claims that he had rescued two injured men from the wreckage of a burning plane were lies.

Gallimore, 42, from Setley Gardens, Bournemouth, was one of the first on the scene when a light aircraft crashed just outside Bournemouth airport on August 28, 2004.

The father-of-one later claimed he had helped to pull two survivors from the plane, but an inquest into the death of passenger Andrew Anderson from Guernsey heard how the real hero of the hour was former soldier Michael Winstanley, 52, from Purewell, Christchurch.

Mr Gallimore told district coroner Sheriff Payne: "A lot of things happened. In the heat of the moment I probably said things that didn't happen."

But after the inquest he still insisted he was involved in the rescue. "It was a total nightmare," he said. "I didn't put my name forward for a medal - other people did."

As well as the medal, Mr Gallimore also received an award from 2CR and was invited to join a sailing crew during a race.

He said: "I never intended to do anything malicious and never set out to get an award.

"I do not want it now; it feels dirty."

Mr Gallimore also hit out at the Cabinet Office for giving him the award.

Mr Winstanley, who branded Mr Gallimore "sick" after the Bournemouth inquest, said: "He should have given it back a lot earlier."

His father, Leonard Gallimore, told the Echo the cabinet office was "holding" the medal in his son's name while the coroner considered the family's request to look at the case again.

"Nigel has never knowingly lied," he insisted.