Chief of company that lost Taser licence dies in suspected suicide

Peter Boatman, who was director of operations for Pro-Tect Systems, was was "destroyed" by the furore caused by criticism of his firm for supplying the Tasers used during the stand-off with gunman Raoul Moat, his business partner said.

The Home Office revoked the firm's licence to import and sell Tasers on Tuesday after it breached its terms by supplying X12 Tasers, which were still being tested by Government scientists, directly to police involved in the Moat manhunt.

Kevin Coles, Pro-Tect's managing director, said there was "no doubt" that his colleague's apparent suicide was linked to the week's events.

He said: "He was a proud man and he felt ashamed at recent developments.

"He spent all his life involved in officer safety and what happened was a result of him being worried about the welfare of officers.

"He knew there was something there that would offer the officers protection and that was what his motive was.

"The furore over it destroyed him."

The 57-year-old former police officer had a "lovely wife", children and young grandchildren, he added.

"He's not a person you imagine would ever do that," he said.

Pro-Tect breached its licence by supplying the X12 Tasers and XRep ammunition, which were still being tested by the Home Office, directly to two police forces.

Home Secretary Theresa May revoked the firm's licence to import and sell Tasers following an investigation into the use of the weapons at the end of one of Britain's biggest manhunts.

The company was facing possible action by Northamptonshire Police over the breach of the licence.

Mr Boatman was previously in charge of assessing the merits of Taser as head of operational training for the Northants force before leaving to join Pro-Tect.

Mr Coles, who was also a family friend of his, said he "wasn't the man he was" after the criticism levelled at his firm.

He added: "We're all just dreadfully sorry for (his wife) Steph and the family."

A spokesman for the Daventry-based company, which was the UK's sole supplier of Tasers, said his death was "an incredibly sad loss".

Pro-Tect said he showed "incredible passion in bringing a friendly and committed outlook to all he met".

"It is with great regret we announce the tragic death of our colleague and great friend Peter Boatman today," the spokesman said.

"At this point, it is inappropriate to comment on this terrible news apart from saying we are devastated and are sharing a state of severe shock and grief with Peter's family.

"Since Peter has been a part of our business he has shown incredible passion in bringing a friendly and committed outlook to all he met.

"His death is an incredibly sad loss and we extend out deepest condolences and thoughts to his family and friends at this very difficult time."

A Home Office spokesman said it could not comment while the police investigation was ongoing, but added: "Any such death is a tragedy."

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to an address in Reynard Way, Kingsthorpe, at 1.09pm this afternoon, where the body of a 57-year-old man was discovered.

"We are not treating the death as suspicious and will be preparing a report for the coroner."

Armed police fired two Tasers at Moat in an "effort to stop him taking his own life" in the Riverside park area in Rothbury, Northumberland, in the early hours of July 10, an inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre was told.

The controversial Tasers, which have been criticised by human rights campaigners, can deliver up to 20 seconds of electric shock in bullet-like capsules from a standard 12-gauge shotgun or a X12 Taser.

Mrs May revoked Pro-Tect's licence after inquiries revealed it supplied the Tasers, which should only have been supplied to the Home Office Science and Development Branch (HOSDB), directly to police.

The firm also breached the rules "governing the secure transport of the devices and ammunition", the Home Office said.

There was no suggestion any blame should be attached to the officers involved in the Moat stand-off and the Home Office has stressed police could use any weapon they saw fit as long as its use was "lawful, reasonable and proportionate".

The stand-off with the steroid-addicted former nightclub doorman ended the seven-day manhunt which was triggered when Moat shot his former girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart, 22, killed her new boyfriend, Chris Brown, 29, and blinded Pc David Rathband, 42.

But the precise sequence of events regarding the discharge of the XRep Tasers in relation to Moat firing his sawn-off shotgun has not been established and is under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the inquest into his death was told.

Former colleague Bill Fox, chairman of conflict management specialist Maybo, said Mr Boatman had been awarded the Queen's Police Medal for his commitment to officer safety.