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| Plymouth Taser inquiry officer avoids prosecution over burns death | Plymouth Taser inquiry officer avoids prosecution over burns death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A police officer will not be prosecuted after he Tasered a man who doused himself in petrol and then caught fire. | A police officer will not be prosecuted after he Tasered a man who doused himself in petrol and then caught fire. |
| The Devon and Cornwall officer was being investigated for gross negligence manslaughter and misconduct in public office over Andrew Pimlott's death. | The Devon and Cornwall officer was being investigated for gross negligence manslaughter and misconduct in public office over Andrew Pimlott's death. |
| Mr Pimlott, 32, who appeared to be holding a lit match at the time, died five days after two officers were called to a house in Plymouth 2013. | |
| However, the police watchdog said an officer should be held accountable. | |
| The CPS said there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute the officer. | The CPS said there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute the officer. |
| But, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said an officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct. | |
| Tom Milsom, IPCC associate commissioner, said: "We felt there was sufficient evidence to refer a file to the CPS but in light of their decision we have informed Mr Pimlott's family of our findings." | |
| 'Very difficult circumstances' | 'Very difficult circumstances' |
| Sally Walsh, of the CPS special crime division, said: "Whilst we cannot know whether Mr Pimlott intended to set himself alight, seeing him douse himself in petrol and holding what appeared to be a lighted match, it was reasonable for the officer to conclude that he intended to. | Sally Walsh, of the CPS special crime division, said: "Whilst we cannot know whether Mr Pimlott intended to set himself alight, seeing him douse himself in petrol and holding what appeared to be a lighted match, it was reasonable for the officer to conclude that he intended to. |
| "It appears from the evidence that the officer did the best he could in what were clearly very difficult circumstances and that he was faced with a choice of either standing back to allow Mr Pimlott to set himself alight or taking the somewhat lesser risk of applying the Taser in an effort to stop him doing so. | "It appears from the evidence that the officer did the best he could in what were clearly very difficult circumstances and that he was faced with a choice of either standing back to allow Mr Pimlott to set himself alight or taking the somewhat lesser risk of applying the Taser in an effort to stop him doing so. |
| "We have advised the IPCC that no further criminal action should be taken." | "We have advised the IPCC that no further criminal action should be taken." |
| The IPCC said Devon and Cornwall Police was deciding how to proceed. | |
| Two officers from Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the house at about 21:00 BST on 18 April 2013 after reports from a member of the public about a man with a can of flammable liquid. | |
| The IPCC confirmed a Taser, which delivers a 50,000-volt electrical charge into targets to incapacitate them, was fired during the incident. | The IPCC confirmed a Taser, which delivers a 50,000-volt electrical charge into targets to incapacitate them, was fired during the incident. |
| Mr Pimlott was taken to hospital in Plymouth before being transferred to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital. He died on 23 April. | Mr Pimlott was taken to hospital in Plymouth before being transferred to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital. He died on 23 April. |
| Devon and Cornwall Police are yet to comment. | Devon and Cornwall Police are yet to comment. |