POLICE WERE warned by prison staff that suspected gunman Raoul Moat may have been planning to harm his ex-girlfriend the day before he allegedly shot her and killed her new boyfriend.
As the hunt for the fugitive continued yesterday, Northumbria police temporary chief constable Sue Sim said the warning came from Durham Prison on Friday.
The case had been referred to the police watchdog, she added.
Mr Moat (37), from the Fenham area of Newcastle, was released from prison on Thursday after being jailed for 18 weeks for assault. On Saturday, he allegedly shot Samantha Stobbart, killed her boyfriend Chris Brown and fled. The next day the former nightclub bouncer allegedly shot and injured police officer David Rathband.
Police said Miss Stobbart (22) was no longer in a critical condition and was “improving”. She issued a direct appeal to Mr Moat, through the police, saying: “Please give yourself up. If you still love me and our baby you would not be doing this.” Det Chief Supt Neil Adamson revealed that police had received a handwritten letter in the last 24 hours purportedly from Mr Moat and urged him: “I want you to realise you do have a future. We can only help you with this if you make contact with us directly.” The detective said there were indications that other people may be at risk and a number of them had been given police protection.Tensions remained high in Newcastle yesterday, where people were arrested and released by armed police in at least two incidents.
Mr Moat mistakenly believed Miss Stobbart was having an affair with a police officer. He is understood to have fired at Miss Stobbart – with whom he had a six-year on-off relationship – through the living room window of a house in the Scafell area of Gateshead.
Moments later Mr Brown (29), is believed to have left the property – only to be struck down about 50 metres from the front door. Less than 24 hours after the attack, a man identified as Mr Moat was linked to a shooting in East Denton, Newcastle.
Constable Rathband (42), was shot in the face and chest through the passenger window of his car in an “unprovoked” attack while on duty. He had been parked on a roundabout. Ms Sim said the officer underwent surgery last night and his condition remained critical but stable.
She said the force had voluntarily referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. “Northumbria Police were not informed that Mr Moat intended to shoot or kill Samantha Stobbart,” she said. “We were informed on Friday afternoon by Durham Prison that Mr Moat may intend to cause serious harm to his partner.
“We acknowledge that it is important that these matters are investigated thoroughly, and I have voluntarily referred this aspect to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.” – (PA)