GP was 'unable to say if Davison was fit to hold a shotgun licence'
Concerns about Jake Davison's behaviour and 'obsession with guns' were made from an early age
A doctor's told the inquest into the Plymouth shootings he did not feel able to give a view on whether Jake Davison was fit to hold a shotgun.
Doctor Benjamin Dawson said he felt what was being asked was outside his expertise.
He also showed advice - being circulated to GPs in Devon at the time - which suggested they only answered if qualified.
Five people died in the shootings and the inquest is looking at what lessons about the process of awarding gun licences can be learnt.
Jake Davison was registered with St Neots' surgery from 2003, and the inquest heard that as he grew older Mount Tamar School had raised concerns about his behaviour and growing interest in guns.
The jury were told a mental health CAMHS report, when Davison was a young teenager, showed he had an 'obsession' with guns which was a 'sole interest taking up much of his time researching and writing about firearms' and even suggested he wanted to move to America and open a firearms-related business.
The assessments did find he had 'no plans to hurt anyone' and should remain at school with support, despite what the court heard was his 'impairment in social interaction, communication and imagination'. It added Davison 'did not pose a risk to himself or others' although noted his interest in weapons could have a 'potential'. The jury heard Davison had collected blades which his mum removed from the house.
The inquest heard concerns, through various assessments, that Davison lived in a 'fantasy world' and struggled to 'separate fantasy with real life. He was described as 'impulsive', struggled to make friendships, was 'often unaware of others around him' and could 'damage things at home when he is angry'. In primary school, in 2004, he was reported as being 'often disruptive' and would verbally and physically be aggressive to children and adults. Details of reports from his secondary school and CAMHS observations - including an eight-day assessment which diagnosed his autism - showed he was 'displaying obsessional behaviours' towards games involving killing.
The GP in Davison's 2017 application for a shotgun declined to provide information to police, saying: 'It seeks an opinion on matters falling outside my medical expertise, namely assessment of behavioural and personality disorders."
Afterwards Dr Benjamin Dawson also ensured Davison was invited to the surgery and told in person by his doctor why they did not feel able to comment on the shotgun application.
The inquest heard that Dr Dawson did not place a 'firearm reminder code' on Davison's patient records, as requested by police and in the Home Office guidance from 2016, as he had not been issued a shotgun license and was still only applying - and he felt it was important patient records were accurate.
The jury were told there was no information sent to the GP about the decision to subsequently allow, recall and then re-allow the shotgun.
Dr Dawson cited Devon local medical committee-issued advice in August 2016, about the rising numbers of GPs being asked to respond to firearms applications, saying they should only give a view if qualified (ie under section 12 of the Mental Health Act).
It says the GP should 'decline to offer such an opinion on the basis that it lies outside of their competence' and it also adds: "It is therefore worrying that the Home office seems so relaxed about issuing licences to hold lethal weapons without ensuring a safe, consistent and professional system for assessment of suitability which is funded by the people who hold the licences."
Similar concerns about a GP's suitability to answer shotgun licence requests for information had also been raised by the British Medical Association.
The inquest also heard the letter sent to the GP by police did not fully explain the response expected and the wider process being followed, or outline in detail the updated Home Office guidance from April 2021.
When asked whether he would have been minded to give his 'approval' for a licence, Dr Dawson said 'on balance' he might have been, based on the assessment from four years previously which showed that he was 'not at risk'.
Dr Dawson said his interactions with Davison had involved writing two certificates to sign the patient off work due to problems relating to his autism.
The shotgun application in 2017 was Dr Dawson's first experience of the local firearms' licensing process - and believe he's since had one other case following an updated process after November 2021.
The inquest was shown a report about Mr Davison being taken to a minor injuries unit and to hospital with a fracture in 2009 and 2010 with 'punch injuries' to each hand.
A telephone record with a teacher at Mount Tamar explained the school was seeking a referral with CAHMS due to 'problems with fantasy', which was made in 2011, after an assessment from the safeguarding lead at Mount Tamar which said 'he was presenting with more obsessive behaviours', which included of a sexual nature and that his mum was concerned he wasn't separating 'reality with fiction'.
The inquest heard that Davison was seen by 'Livewell South West' in May 2021 - which offers support in areas such as mental health - but his GP was not told directly. It was confirmed the process has now changed with GPs being sent an alert which might prompt them to decide if a follow up is needed.
Dr Dawson said if he had been alerted to concerns from Livewell South West 'I would have contacted Jake'.
Addressing the families who are following the inquest, Dr Dawson expressed his 'deepest condolences' and praised their 'quiet dignity' and added he felt their pain must be 'unimaginable'.
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