A MALVERN man shot by armed police last year has pleaded guilty to firearms offences.
The incident happened on November 3, 2018, on Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove when officers were called to reports of a man holding a handgun.
Edward Mark Williams suffered gunshot wounds and was given emergency first aid by police officers at the scene before being take to hospital where he underwent surgery.
Williams made a full recovery and on Friday at Worcester Crown Court he pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and having an imitation firearm with intent to resist arrest.
Det Supt Carl Moore said thankfully incidents like this were very rare in West Mercia and he was pleased Williams had been brought to justice.
“Our specially trained firearms officers are highly-skilled and will only ever discharge their weapons as a last resort if it is absolutely necessary.”
He thanked the community for their understanding and patience while officers dealt with the incident.
Williams will be sentenced on December 2 after a pre-sentence report.
IOPC finds police force ‘proportionate and appropriate’
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found the level of force used by firearms was ‘proportionate and appropriate’.
One of the reports was from a man who said he had a gun pointed at his face.
After patrol officers identified the 55-year-old on a residential street, firearms officers were called.
Two firearms officers encountering the man instructed him to drop the weapon but instead he pointed it at them.
After he failed to comply with their commands, the officers discharged their firearms five times, with two shots hitting him in the chest and leg.
They and other officers gave him first aid and he was taken to hospital.
The IOPC found the man was armed with an air pistol – a replica of a hand gun – he had bought that day.
Regional director Derrick Campbell said all officers were treated as witnesses and saw the man as a serious threat to themselves, their colleagues and members of the public.
“Over 12 seconds, the officers gave the command to ‘drop the gun’ ten times and instead of complying, the man lifted his weapon and pointed it at the officers.
“After shots were fired, officers engaged with the man in a calm and professional manner, providing him with medical aid as soon as they were practicably able to do so.”
