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National
Sophie Doughty

Raoul Moat: How fugitive gunman's life ended after police stand-off in Rothbury

After seven days on the run, gunman Raoul Moat shot himself on a rainy Northumberland riverbank.

The final moments of the nation's most famous fugitive's life are set to be played out in new ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat.

The three part series, which airs on Sunday, sees the tense six hour stand-off between Moat and armed police dramatized for television viewers.

Read more: How tragic PC David Rathband's life spiralled after Raoul Moat shooting

Audiences will also see discussions between senior police officers as they take the decision to authorise the use of the unlicensed XRep Taser, which could be fired from a greater distance than a regular Taser.

Following the gunman's death it was revealed that the weapon was discharged before Moat died.

Police on the streets of Rothbury, Northumberland as fugitive Raoul Moat lies in a field surrounded by armed police. (PA)

The inquest into Moat’s death heard how police chiefs believed the Taser weaponry, never used before in the UK, offered the chance to bring in Moat alive.

However, the jury still returned a verdict of suicide after hearing the Taser round had little affect on 37-year-old Moat and concluding that he had intended to shoot himself.

The police watchdog, then called the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), also investigated the events surrounding Moat’s death in Rothbury, Northumberland.

The IPCC cleared Northumbria Police of any wrongdoing.

It was during the early hours of Saturday July 3 2010 that Moat, who had been freed from prison just days earlier, shot his ex girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and her new partner Christopher Brown, in Birtley, Gateshead.

Christopher, 29, died instantly while 22-year-old Samantha was left seriously injured.

Matt Stokoe as Raoul Moat in the ITV drama about the 2010 manhunt (ITV STUDIOS)

Then, less than 24 hours later the gunman made a phone call to Northumbria Police declaring he intended to target police officers before creeping up on PC David Rathband as he sat in his patrol car.

Moat, from Fenham in Newcastle, blasted the traffic officer in the face through the window of his car.

With the help of accomplices Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan former doorman Moat fled to Rothbury in where he remained on the run for a week as he was hunted by hundreds of police officers.

(PA)

The manhunt came to an end during the early hours of July 10 when Moat shot himself on the banks of the River Coquet.

In another tragic twist Taser expert and former police officer Peter Boatman, whose firm supplied the weapon used on Moat to Nortumbria Police, was found dead at his home just three months after the manhunt ended.

Three days earlier the Home Office revoked his licence to supply the items.

The scene of Christopher Brown's murder in Birtley (Newcastle Chronicle)

An open verdict was recorded at his inquest.

In 2013 it was revealed that the XRep Taser would not be rolled out to police forces after the Government pulled the plug on tests on the controversial weapon.

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