Top

PC David Rathband

March 1, 2012 by · Comments Off on PC David Rathband 

PC David Rathband, Tributes have been paid to PC David Rathband after the policeman, who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat 18 months ago, was found dead at his home in Northumberland.

Rathband, a 44-year-old father of two, is thought to have taken his own life. A Northumbria police spokesman said no one was being sought in connection with the death.

The spokesman said officers were called to Rathband’s home, in the town of Blyth, at 7pm on Wednesday following “concerns for his welfare”. He was declared dead at the scene.

David Cameron described Rathband as “an extraordinarily brave man”, adding: “After his horrific injuries he did an enormous amount for charities and for other injured police officers, and for families who had lost police officers in the line of duty.”

The home secretary, Theresa May, said: “I had the privilege of meeting PC David Rathband. He was a brave and fine policeman. My thoughts are with his family.”

Sue Sim, the chief constable of Northumbria police, said she was deeply saddened by Rathband’s death, adding that he was a dedicated officer who had shown “outstanding bravery in what was a terrifying situation”.

Moat, a former bouncer, became the subject of a huge manhunt after evading capture for a week before shooting himself dead after a standoff with police in the market town of Rothbury, Northumberland.

On 3 July 2010, he had shot and injured his former partner Samantha Stobbart, 22, and killed her new boyfriend, 29-year-old Chris Brown.

Bottom