Father of Plymouth spree killer tried to stop his son getting shotgun licence, hearing learns

The father of Plymouth spree killer Jake Davison, tried to stop him owning a shotgun and firearms licence because of fears about his mental health, a pre-inquest review heard.

Mark Davison told senior Plymouth coroner Ian Arrow he had contacted Devon and Cornwall Police with concerns about his son and his unstable home life.

Davison, 22, killed his mother Maxine, 51, after a row and then shot dead four others in a 12-minute attack in Plymouth in August 2021.

Three-year-old Sophie Martyn; her father, Lee, 43; Stephen Washington, 59; and Kate Shepherd, 66, all died on the evening of 12 August last year in the Keyham area of the city.

The apprentice crane operator then turned the shotgun on himself before armed officers reached him.

The killings happened just weeks after the shotgun and licence had been returned to him by Devon and Cornwall Police.

They had been seized in 2020 after Davison assaulted two teenagers in a park.

He applied for a shotgun certificate in July 2017 and, after the application was processed, a certificate was issued to him in January 2018 that was valid for five years.

A pre-inquest hearing at Plymouth Coroner’s Court heard arrangements are being made for the inquest to resume on January 17 next year at Exeter racecourse.

Bridget Dolan KC, counsel to the inquest, told the hearing Mr Davison has a friend who was present when he phoned Devon and Cornwall Police with his concerns about his son.

The court heard an investigator from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is planning on obtaining a statement from Mr Davison’s friend.

Mr Davison told the hearing: “I would like to say that when I initially phoned the Devon and Cornwall Police and tried to stop the shotgun licence by telling them that I didn’t think Jake was stable or living in a stable home etc. etc., as I have already said before.

“My friend was there, and he is the one who is willing to say that he witnessed me saying such things as well as being logged with the Devon and Cornwall Police as well, to confirm what I am saying.”

The IOPC has previously launched a criminal investigation into Devon and Cornwall Police’s firearms licensing unit.

As part of the investigation, two members of staff have been served with gross misconduct notices, while an officer has been served with a misconduct notice.

Social media usage by Davison suggested an obsession with “incel” culture, meaning “involuntary celibate”, as well as an interest in guns and the US.

Reports have suggested Davison’s mother had been struggling to get help for her son, having become concerned about his mental health.

A previous hearing heard she had reported him to the counter-terrorism Prevent programme.

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