Moat 'Planned Shooting Spree In Prison Cell' - Sky News

3:24pm UK, Monday February 07, 2011

Gerard Tubb, North of England correspondent

Killer Raoul Moat arranged to buy the gun he used in his shooting spree in phone calls from Durham Prison, a jury in Newcastle has heard.

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Moat, who shot his ex-partner Sam Stobbart, killed her new boyfriend, Chris Brown, and blinded PC David Rathband in July of last year, told a man accused of being his accomplice: "I've got a plan."

Karl Ness, of Dudley, Newcastle, was in regular phone contact with Moat, who was serving four months in jail for assaulting a child, the court heard.

Ness, 26, is on trial for murder, and with co-defendant Qhuram Awan, 23, for attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of a shotgun and robbery.

Moat's calls, in which he ranted obsessively about Ms Stobbart, were recorded by prison authorities and parts of the transcripts were read to the jury.

In them, Moat told Ness to contact a man called Stevie Walton, and another man referred to only as Richard.

"You need to get in touch with them, I need some major help. I've got a plan mate and I need Stevie. I need him in here."

Unarmed PC David Rathband was shot multiple times

Prosecutor Richard Smith QC has already told Newcastle Crown Court that Richard delivered a package to Ness which was later found to contain the shotgun.

The jury was told that Moat knew his phone calls mght be monitored.

In a call made during his last day in jail Moat told Walton: "I need it, I want it. It's like ASAP.

"It's got to be tomorrow, mate. The cash is all there."

Moat said Ms Stobbart had told him she had a new partner, who he thought was "a big lump of a lad".

Walton asked him: "Is that what you want that thing for?"

Moat replied "No, er, yes. I'll talk to you later. These things have got to be done."

Moat went on the run for over a week before shooting himself in a stand-off with police.

Ness and Awan deny all the charges and the trial continues.