Man shot by police 'threatened staff'

Police carried out a forensic examination of the scene

A man shot dead by armed police took an air rifle to work "when he was bored", an inquest has been told.

Former soldier Kirk Davies, 30, from Selby, North Yorkshire, also had a history of psychiatric problems and had previously tried to commit suicide.

Mr Davies was shot dead by police in Wakefield on 24 September 2000.

He was shot by two police marksmen in the grounds of Fieldhead Hospital after threatening staff with a camouflaged air-rifle.

Kirk John Davies had served in Northern Ireland

Mr Davies' girlfriend, Kathryn Wadsworth, told the inquest at Leeds Crown Court on Monday, she knew he had an airgun but did not allow it in the house.

She said: "He couldn't hit a barn door at 20 paces. He used to take it to work when he was bored."

The hearing was told that on 23 September Mr Davies walked into Selby Police Station, North Yorkshire, and placed a rifle on the counter.

An officer tried to grab it, but Mr Davies ran out.

Armed police were later alerted after reports of a man with a weapon in the grounds of Newton Lodge psychiatric unit, close to Fieldhead Hospital.

Mr Davies believed he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences in the army and had undergone several psychiatric evaluations.

When he threatened hospital staff he was shot by police marksmen.

The hearing continues.