PC David Rathband Took His Own Life - Coroner

The policeman shot and blinded by gunman Raoul Moat took his own life, a coroner has ruled.

Police Constable David Rathband was found hanged at his home in Blyth, Northumberland in February 2012. 

The 44-year-old was out on patrol when Moat, 37, shot his former partner Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown in July 2010. After a tense stand-off he was shot dead.

The inquest into Mr Rathband's death heard that his encounter with Moat was the "first step" in a series of events which led to the father-of-two's suicide. 

Raoul Moat was killed after a six-hour stand-off with armed police

He became a national hero after the incident and used his profile to establish the Blue Lamp Foundation to support 999 staff injured on duty. But Mr Rathband became desperate after the breakdown of his marriage and struggled to cope with his disability. 

Coroner Eric Armstrong said none of those involved in what happened should blame themselves. He said: "The circumstances of his injuries (inflicted by Moat) are well-known. It is difficult, if not impossible, not to view the infliction of those injuries as the first step in a series which culminated in his death."

During the hearing in Newcastle it was revealed Mr Rathband, who lived alone, had made threats to kill himself and told his lover - 7/7 survivor Lisa French - that he had attempted to hang himself but could not do it.

Ms French, who saw him on the day he died, told his widow Kath and colleagues in Northumberland Police about this. But although they were concerned for his welfare they did not consider him to be at immediate risk of suicide.

The three-day inquest was told Mr Rathband's wife had put up with his previous infidelity, but his affair with Ms French effectively ended their marriage. He moved out of the home they shared in August 2011.

Kath Rathband (centre) at her estranged husband's funeral

Mrs Rathband told her husband the news before he flew to Australia for a holiday with his identical twin brother Darren.

While he was there Mr Rathband desperately tried to contact her, often calling up to 50 times a day. Mrs Rathband told the hearing the messages were unpleasant, abusive and threatening.

In one, he pretended to be another officer ringing to say he was dead. In another Mr Rathband threatened to video call her and kill himself while she watched.

Family liaison officer Detective Constable Alison Brown, a friend of the pair, said: "For someone to say that, I just thought it was an awful thing to say. I was concerned for his well-being and his mental state but I did not think he would kill himself."

The last time Mrs Rathband saw her husband alive was on the night he died - February 29. She said he looked "awful" and needed help.

However, she thought she was not the right person to do that and contacted his sister Debbie Essery, who was in Staffordshire, and his welfare officer Inspector John Heckles.

Mrs Essery then contacted DC Brown via Facebook to raise her concerns. Later that evening, officers broke into Mr Rathband's home and found him hanging in the dark with music playing on his mobile.

Emergency service workers carry the coffin of PC David Rathband

Some of his friends and family believe the police could have done more before he died, and the force's response was under scrutiny during the hearing.

Superintendent Jim Napier said that, because Mr Rathband had made suicide threats on previous occasions and his family had only raised their concerns via Facebook. he did not think there was an immediate threat to his life.

He said: "It's my experience that people who intend to take their own lives will do so. Those who make threats to take it over a period of time need help."

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