Gunman Moat warned police ‘I’m coming to get you’

He then called police after shooting PC David Rathband and asked: “Are you taking us serious now? I have just downed your officer.” He added: “You are going to kill me because I’m never going to stop.”

Police officers found a series of suicide notes left by Moat after he embarked on his murderous rampage, the inquest jury heard. He left six letters in his house that showed he intended to take his own life, the inquest at Newcastle Crown Court was told.

In one, to his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, he expressed his love for her and said that he could not live without her. In another, to his business partner and friend Karl Ness, he wrote: “Sorry mate, I’m done with it all. Please take the company if you want it. I can’t do this any more.”

The court was told that the failed relationship with Ms Stobbart had been the “catalyst” for Moat’s rampage.

He warned his former girlfriend that he was “going to go crazy” after she told him that she wanted him out of her life, the jury heard.

In a prison phone call, Ms Stobbart told the 37-year-old Newcastle bouncer that her new boyfriend was a “handy f****** bloke” who could knock him out.

Moat killed his love rival, Chris Brown, 29, in Birtley, Gateshead, in July last year, then shot Ms Stobbart, 22, leaving her in a critical condition. The next night he shot PC Rathband, who was sitting in a patrol car outside Newcastle.

Moat died a week later after a stand-off with police in Rothbury, Northumberland.

Superintendent Jim Napier told the hearing: “It is clear from the evidence that Moat’s break-up with Samantha Stobbart was the catalyst for his murderous acts.”

After the Birtley shootings, Moat rang his friend Anthony Wright and said: “I have got a gun. I’m going to do myself in.”

After finding the notes, police discovered home-made ammunition, and a noose in the loft. “They [the letters] appear to have been prepared by Moat and all intimated that he intended to take his own life,” said Supt Napier, who was in charge of the inquiry into the fugitive’s criminal activities.

The inquest was told that while jailed for 18 weeks for assaulting a child, Moat had spoken several times to Ms Stobbart and, as was usual practice, the calls were recorded.

In one call, she told him that the relationship was over. Moat said: “We had one argument the other day. Let’s not get all silly about it.” He complained that “everybody is getting on my case” and that he was getting “picked on”. The conversation ended with the phone being slammed down.

Shortly before PC Rathband was shot, Moat called Northumbria Police to say that he was hunting for officers. He told a call handler that he had two hostages who would be killed if he was approached.

Supt Napier explained to the jury that the hostages were in fact Ness and Qhuram Awan, who have received life sentences for helping Moat.

Coroner David Mitford said that an inquest was necessary because “Mr Moat met his death when he was effectively detained”.

Gunman Moat warned police ‘I’m coming to get you’ – then blinded officer