Plymouth gunman's dad 'warned police not to issue firearms licence'

The dad of the Plymouth gunman today told a jury he warned police that Jake was not fit to hold a gun licence - although police were unable to find the call.

Former Brixham fisherman Mark Davison said he told officers Jake lived in a 'volatile household, he's autistic and I don't want him having a gun'.

He said when another child told him Jake was applying for a shotgun licence, he responded with the words 'you're having a laugh'.

Mr Davison senior revealed when Jake was 13 or 14 he asked his dad to buy him an air rifle and he refused saying there was too much arguing in the house, telling the jury I said: "I'm not buying you an air rifle in case you shoot your mum."

Mark Davison said he outlined his concerns to the person who answered the phone from the police and told the inquest he expected the concern to be actioned as 'I'm not talking about someone stealing a bike, we're talking about a shot gun'.

The inquest was told while Mark lived apart from Maxine Davison, they did remain in contact and he did 'odd jobs' for her - and would notice 'holes in doors' which he thought followed arguments with Jake.

Mr Davison senior said while he was aware his son had an interest in guns, he did not know about his interest in incel culture or know his internet history.

The inquest heard that the police system for recording contact with the force - ie reporting concerns about Jake's firearm - has been looked into but the call was not traced, with possible reasons for that outlined.

Related links

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The process of a 'high-risk' decision to award a shotgun licence to someone where it has previously been removed was outlined at the inquest - along with details of a 2015 report looking into the way 11 forces operated their firearms licensing department.

A video montage detailing the events of the night of the Keyham shooting was played to the jury at the inquest in Exeter.

The accounts of neighbours in Biddick Drive have been read to the jury at the ongoing inquests into the five people shot dead in Plymouth in August 2021.

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