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Survival expert Ray Mears helped find Raoul Moat
Police called in TV outdoorsman to help search for gunman
Former footballer Paul Gascoigne may have stolen the headlines for his surreal appearance during the standoff between Northumbria police and fugitive gunman Raoul Moat earlier this month. But it has now emerged that the police did call in one famous face during their seven-day search - that of the TV presenter and survival expert Ray Mears.
Northumbria police have admitted that Mears, the 46-year-old BBC and ITV presenter, was involved in the high-profile manhunt to find Moat. A police spokeswoman said yesterday: "We can confirm Ray Mears did assist in this investigation, as did several other agencies and specialists."
Mears, who is also the author of the Outdoor Survival Handbook, has refused to comment on his role in the search. But it is thought he was enlisted to help police track Moat's movements after he fled his makeshift camp near the village of Rothbury. Moat was known to be experienced in outdoor survival techniques and knew the local countryside extremely well.
The revelation that Mears was involved in the manhunt will do little to silence accusations that police mishandled the investigation.
Moat went on the run after shooting his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killing her new partner Chris Brown, as well as blasting a police officer, PC David Rathband, in the face. So far, 20 people have been arrested in connection with the case – the latest being two men and two women who were bailed on Wednesday after they were questioned on suspicion of assisting Moat.
Rathband, who was blinded in the attack, left Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary yesterday – 17 days after his ordeal. In a moving interview with BBC 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire he insisted that he was not bitter, saying: "I'm the lucky one." ·
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If only Samantha Stobbart had not taunted that man, Raoul Moat, while he was in prison, I wonder how different the outcome of all of this may have been.
Good luck to PC. Rathband.
Can we remember he was a Police Officer doing his job just like any other man working for a living. He and his family have to live the rest of their lives with the legacy of Raoul Moats cowardly attack on him. Dare I say it? Good riddance Raoul Moat.