Woman shouted ‘bang, bang’ at Pc victim of Moat

The woman, who had red dyed hair and was dressed in blue denim and gold jewellery, apparently pretended to shoot a gun as she did so.

Pc Rathband, who was shot and blinded by killer gunman Raoul Moat during his rampage in July, was walking into Newcastle Crown Court when the prank took place.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said the woman, who has not been named, was arrested for a public order offence.

A witness to the incident said: “Pc Rathband was being accompanied by a family liaison officer who turned round and saw this woman making a gun sign behind his back. It was extremely offensive.”

The woman was arrested on the fourth-floor concourse inside the court building and led outside in handcuffs by three uniformed police officers.

Pc Rathband has been in court since giving his prosecution evidence in the trial of two men alleged to have been Moat’s willing accomplices.

Part-time doorman Qhuram Awan, of Blyth, Northumberland, and Karl Ness, 26, of Dudley, Gateshead, deny conspiracy to murder, the attempted murder of Pc Rathband, a firearms offence and robbery of a Northumberland fish and chip shop.

Ness also denies the murder of karate instructor Brown.

The trial continues.