10 years ago Paul Gascoigne turned up to talk to Raoul Moat - here's what happened
Ten years ago on July 9, Sky News tweeted: “Footballer Paul Gascoigne has arrived at scene saying he is a friend of Raoul Moat.”
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It was a bizarre update in what had been a shocking series of events – Raoul Moat, a former-bouncer recently released from prison, had shot his ex-girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart, and her new partner, Chris Brown, six days earlier at their home on the outskirts of Newcastle.
A day following his first attack, Moat struck again, shooting and blinding policeman PC David Rathband.
Moat had called police prior to the shooting and bragged about his intention to shoot a police officer. Rathband would take his own life 18 months later.
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On July 6 the attacker declared war on the Northumbria Police.
One of the largest police manhunts in UK history followed, with Moat evading police capture until July 9.
The manhunt was approaching its climax as Paul Gascogine arrived.
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Why did Paul Gascoigne turn up?
Raoul Moat was cornered by armed police at the Craigside Estate on the outskirts of Rothbury, reportedly holding a gun to his head.
The scene couldn’t have been more tense when the former Newcastle United star arrived, claiming to know Moat.
Gascoigne was wearing a dressing gown and offered to bring the distressed killer “chicken and lager” in an attempt to persuade him to surrender peacefully.
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The 53-year-old has since discussed the incident, claiming in an interview with The Mirror that he was under the influence of cocaine. The drug distorted his understanding of his relationship with the killer.
He told the Mirror: “I just remember that I was in a taxi, I had a fishing rod, some chicken, four cans of lager and a fishing jacket.
"I thought that I could take Raoul Moat fishing because he was near a river.”
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He added: “I was telling the taxi driver I could save him. I told him: Listen, I have been through so much, I am the best therapist in the world, I can save him’.
“I think that I genuinely believed that.”
Gascoigne was told to leave by police, with Moat taking his own life hours later.
The footballer who has struggled with alcohol addiction and substance abuse has said that he was at the peak of his addiction during the episode.
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What happened to Moat’s victims?
Chris Brown, then 29, was shot and killed outside the house of Samantha Stobbart when he went outside to confront Moat.
Sarah Stobbart was shot in the arm and abdomen, requiring liver surgery under armed guard.
She revealed the terror of the incident to a court in 2011, stating: "Chris went down to the grass and I followed him. I remember Raoul was shouting. I don't know what. Shouting. He pointed the gun at my legs and I ran into the house.
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"I could not see anybody. I was panicking because my daughter was upstairs and I was running about the house looking for the keys and I did not know what they looked like.
"I heard two shots. When I looked out the window it was done."
Moat, who was a released convict, had been covertly listening to Brown and Stobbart mocking him.
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He had been serving an 18-week sentence for assault and had threatened to seriously harm his ex-partner.
A day later PC David Rathband was shot in the head and upper body while sitting in his patrol car, leaving him with critical injuries.
Rathband was blinded by the shooting, something he struggled to come to terms with. He took his own life in February 2012.
How to watch the documentary
The final days of Raoul Moat were documented in ITV’s Manhunt: The Raoul Moat story.
You can catch up with the forensic retelling of Moat’s shocking rampage via ITV Hub.