I warned the give my son

THE father of gunman Jake Davison said he tried to warn police not to give his son a shotgun licence, because he lived in a “volatile environment”.

- DANNY HALPIN

Davison used a pump-action Weatherby shotgun to kill five people, including his mother, on August 12, 2021.

He killed his mother Maxine, 51, after a row at their home before shooting dead Sophie Martyn, three, and her father, Lee, 43; Stephen Washington, 59; and Kate Shepherd, 66, in the Keyham area of Plymouth before turning the gun on himself.

His father, Mark Davison, said that there were frequent arguments between Maxine and her son in which the 22-year-old would punch holes in doors, and that he tried to warn police about his behaviour.

Giving evidence at an inquest in Exeter, he said: “I tried to stop that boy gett ing a shotgun because he lived in a volatile environment. They did say they would get back in touch with me, I think I spoke to support staff.

“I thought the fact I made a complaint would be enough, I chased it up at a later date. I said I was Jake’s dad, he lived in a volatile environment.

“I explained about the doors broken and said he was autistic and I said I have a criminal record, what would stop me from getting that gun? I tried the absolute best to get the police’s attention, that’s why I said that.”