Don't rush to blame 'roid rage' for Moat's murder rampage

Jul 14 2010 by Ruth Lawson, The Journal

As speculation surrounds the driving force behind gunman Raoul Moat’s recent rampage, RUTH LAWSON talks to some leading experts about the possibility of “roid rage” being a contributory factor.

Police insist they did search storm drain where gunman was thought to have hidden

POLICE last night insisted they did search a storm drain in the hunt for Raoul Moat.

Northumbria Police issued a statement claiming the culvert in Rothbury, Northumberland, had been checked by officers during last week’s search for Moat in and around the village.

Speculation has been mounting in Rothbury that Moat may have been hiding in the pipe, after several sightings of him close to an entry point on the Riverside.

Moat’s final stand-off with police came after he was cornered a matter of feet from that entrance.

The Environment Agency, which owns the culvert, revealed yesterday that it had not been approached by police about access to the drain until Saturday, the day after Moat killed himself.

But a force spokesman last night confirmed that officers had checked out the culvert as part of the hunt last week.

He said: "The storm drain in Rothbury was searched and an examination showed no evidence or signs of disturbance that would indicate anybody had been in the drain."

Since Saturday, police have had divers check out the culvert and lift drain covers thought to connect to it as part of follow up searches of Rothbury and surrounding area for weapons or any other items discarded by Moat.

Those searches continued yesterday.

Officers from Northumbria’s marine unit were by the River Coquet in the vicinity of Wagtail Farm, where it is thought Moat may have been for part of last week, and where a large cordon was in place.

The search also involves National Trust property Cragside, which for the fifth day in a row was closed on police advice. The property is due to reopen today after getting police clearance.

General manager John O’Brien told The Journal that during last week’s search, Cragside welcomed around a quarter of the number of visitors it would expect in a normal summer week.

Around 1,400 people came to the property, in a week when it would normally attract 6,000.

Mr O’Brien said: "Just as with the surrounding area really, it has obviously been a difficult time on lots of levels.

"But clearly in terms of tourism there have not been anything like the number of visitors coming to the area.

"It is bound to impact. It is obviously a busy time of year for us normally and for Rothbury so it is a shame."

The trust is a charity which relies on money from visitors to spend on upkeep of its properties. We are obviously keen now the episode is virtually over, to start bringing the visitors in again."

Meanwhile, Northumberland County Council has revealed how services to Rothbury were affected last Tuesday when the village was locked down.

The council’s highways team stopped refurbishment work on the road bridge over the River Coquet in the village centre and the Neighbourhood Environmental Action Team stopped work in the area for the day. Some bins were not collected, but staff caught up with collections the next day.

A council spokeswoman said: "The safety of our staff was a priority and although the men went back into Rothbury the next day, we stipulated that they worked in groups and that there was no lone working."