Reward paid out for help in catching Raoul Moat

Aug 5 2010 The Journal

A REWARD has been paid out to a member of the public for helping to find on-the-run killer Raoul Moat.

A £10,000 reward was offered by Northumbria Police at a press conference four days after Moat shot and blinded PC Rathband, after killing Chris Brown, 29, and shooting ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, 22.

It is not known who the recipient of the reward is, with Northumbria Police calling it a 'private matter'.

Previously it was believed that Moat had been spotted by a police officer in Rothbury, Northumberland, as police said no reward was going to be issued after he was found.

It is also unknown whether the member of the public will receive the full £10,000 or a different sum.

A force spokeswoman said: “A reward has been paid following help from the public in looking for Raoul Moat.”

A funeral for the former bouncer took place earlier this week at Newcastle’s West Road Crematorium.

Moat’s death came seven days after he sparked the biggest manhunt Northumbria Police has ever seen.

The gunman went on the run after shooting his ex-girlfriend and killing her new partner in Birtley, Gateshead, in the early house of Saturday, July 3.

Less than 24-hours later the fugitive called Northumbria Police to declare war on the force before sneaking up on traffic officer PC David Rathband and blasting him with a gun.

The circumstances surrounding Moat’s death are now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.