This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/shropshire/7142462.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Killer 'should not have had gun' Killer 'should not have had gun'
(about 5 hours later)
A man who shot dead a policeman in Shropshire before turning the gun on himself should have been stripped of his firearms licence, an inquest heard. A man who shot dead a policeman in Shropshire before shooting himself should have been stripped of his firearms licence, an inquest heard.
Rat-catcher Peter Medlicott, 33, killed Pc Richard Gray in Shrewsbury on 6 May.Rat-catcher Peter Medlicott, 33, killed Pc Richard Gray in Shrewsbury on 6 May.
Mr Medlicott had been arrested for assault in April but the information was not passed to West Mercia Police's firearms licensing unit. Mr Medlicott had been arrested for assault in April, but the information was not passed to West Mercia Police's firearms licensing unit.
Had it been, then his licence and weapon should have been revoked, the jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.Had it been, then his licence and weapon should have been revoked, the jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
Pc Gray, 43, was sent to a property in Castlefields with a colleague as two unarmed officers were being held hostage inside.Pc Gray, 43, was sent to a property in Castlefields with a colleague as two unarmed officers were being held hostage inside.
Review under wayReview under way
At the fourth day of the inquest Christopher Himsworth, manager of West Mercia's firearms licensing unit, said if information about Medlicott's alleged assault in April had been passed on then it was "highly probable" his licence and weapons would have been revoked. Christopher Himsworth, manager of West Mercia's firearms licensing unit, said if information about Medlicott's alleged assault in April had been passed on then it was "highly probable" his licence and weapons would have been revoked.
He said the constabulary was now reviewing the way information is passed to the fireams unit. Further previous convictions were revealed to the court which the department only became aware of when they renewed his licence in 2005.
A warning letter was sent to him but it was felt that enough time had passed to allow them to renew his licence, the inquest heard.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) review found the force had "insufficiently robust previous and current" arrangements for ensuring that adverse incidents involving firearms holders are passed on to the licensing unit.
A number of recommendations on how it can improve following the incident were read out.
The force said a review is under way and improvements have already been made.
Mr Medlicott kept guns at his father's homeMr Medlicott kept guns at his father's home
Unarmed officers Pc Keiron Cornell and Pc Sharon Phillips were the first to be sent to the property, home of Mr Medlicott's partner Ethel Mildred Jones, on the morning of 6 May and were held at gunpoint by the rat-catcher. Pc Keiron Cornell and Pc Sharon Phillips were the first to be sent to the property, home of Mr Medlicott's partner Ethel Mildred Jones, on 6 May and were held at gunpoint.
Miss Jones had earlier telephoned police saying Mr Medlicott was outside the flat shouting and smashing her bedroom window. She told operator Derek Deakin that he owned guns and had threatened her with them before. Miss Jones had earlier telephoned police saying Mr Medlicott was outside the flat shouting. She told an operator that he owned guns and had threatened her with them before.
But this information was not passed on to officers. But this information was not passed on.
Father-of-two Pc Gray, a trained firearms officer, was sent to the scene with colleague Pc Matthew Crisp after a distress call was received from Pc Cornell's radio.Father-of-two Pc Gray, a trained firearms officer, was sent to the scene with colleague Pc Matthew Crisp after a distress call was received from Pc Cornell's radio.
He was shot in an alley next to the property with the .22 calibre rifle Mr Medlicott used for pest control.He was shot in an alley next to the property with the .22 calibre rifle Mr Medlicott used for pest control.
The pair did not have time to put their protective body armour on before arriving at the scene but Ch Insp John Alder told the jury that it would not have helped because the round fired from the gun was too powerful.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.