The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is bringing a criminal
prosecution after Keith Tilbury, a police civilian worker was shot
during a safety demonstration. The prosecution is being
brought against both Thames Valley Police and PC David
Micklethwaite, the officer involved.
Mr Tilbury, a 57 year old
control room operator, was attending a lecture given by a
police firearms training officer, PC David Micklethwaite who was
demonstrating a Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum Revolver as part of a
talk on the kind of weapons police officers can come up
against. The gun went off shooting Mr Tilbury. Paramedics
managed to stabilise him at the scene and then rushed him to the
John Radcliffe hospital where he underwent life-saving surgery.
Mr Tilbury suffered damage
to his ribs, liver, kidney and intestines as well as substantial
soft tissue damage caused by the trauma and burning to the skin,
fat and muscle of the abdomen. He was unconscious in
intensive care for two weeks and underwent a number of
operations.
Mr Tilbury has been left
with physical injuries and psychological trauma and has not been
able to return to work since the accident. He is being represented
by Field Fisher Waterhouse in a civil claim against
Thames Valley Police worth in excess of £300,000.
Jill
Greenfield, personal injury partner at
Field Fisher Waterhouse, has been instructed by Mr Tilbury to
represent him in his civil claim and has issued a High Court
writ.
Jill Greenfield said:
“This was a
shocking incident. The criminal prosecution clearly reflects the
gravity of the failures that led to this shooting. My client was
shot at point blank range whilst attending what should have been a
routine demonstration. Whilst my client seeks financial
redress, he is currently unable to work of course, it will give him
a level of comfort to know that the situation is being taken so
seriously by the HSE.”