Gunman’s licence ‘for clay pigeon shooting’

Killer’s firearm was temporarily seized after concerns following assault

THE man who shot and killed five people in Plymouth had a gun licence for sporting purposes, it has been revealed.

Jake Davison applied for a shotgun certificate in July 2017 and after the application was processed by Devon and Cornwall Police, a certificate was issued to him in January 2018, valid for five years.

It is understood that in March 2018 Davison legally purchased a shotgun, a statement from the Independent Office for Police Conduct said, with the BBC reporting the 22-year-old was permitted to use a gun for clay pigeon shooting.

Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Sawyer said firearms were “part of a rural economy and we have to accept that”, but that it was “extremely rare” for guns to be misused in this way in the UK. It has also emerged that police did not seize Davison’s shotgun and licence after he admitted assaulting two youths in a park last September.

Apprentice crane operator Davison took part in a voluntary intervention programme. But concerns raised with the force’s firearms licensing department about Davison’s possession of a shotgun led to the firearm and certificate being seized by police. It was returned following his completion of the police Pathfinder scheme.

IOPC regional director David Ford said: “I can assure people our investigation will be thorough and any lessons arising will be shared as quickly as possible.”

POLICE say that Plymouth gunman Jake Davison was issued a gun licence for clay pigeon shooting.

Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Sawyer said it was “extremely rare” for guns to be misused in this way in the UK.

He told the BBC: “I understand the unease. This was a licensed firearm that Jake had, I absolutely accept that.

“I’d ask people to reflect that those firearms, in my ten years as chief constable, have never been used in that way. This is unprecedented for us in Devon and Cornwall and the city of Plymouth.”

But Mr Sawyer said firearms were “part of a rural economy and we have to accept that”.

He said: “They’re heavily regulated, they’re heavily reviewed, and that’s really important for public safety because it’s the only thing police regulate that’s designed to take life.” It was also revealed that police did not seize Davison’s shotgun and licence after he admitted assaulting two youths in a park, it has emerged.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the 22-yearold’s shotgun and licence were only seized in December last year when concerns were raised directly with Devon and Cornwall Police.

Davison had been taking part in a voluntary intervention programme – an alternative to being charged or cautioned – after admitting assaulting two youths in a park in Plymouth last September.

The IOPC said Devon and Cornwall Police had offered the apprentice crane operator a place on its Pathfinder scheme.

At the end of November last year, a scheme worker raised concerns with the force’s firearms licensing department about Davison’s possession of a shotgun. The shotgun and certificate were seized by police on December 7. Following his completion of the Pathfinder scheme in March 2021 and a subsequent review by the firearms licensing department, the shotgun and certificate were returned to Davison on July 9.

A little over a month later, following a row with his mother, Davison shot her dead inside her home in Biddick Drive, Keyham, before killing four others.

On Thursday inquests were opened and adjourned, with a senior detective telling the Plymouth coroner Davison’s victims had all died from shotgun wounds.