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Last Updated: Thursday, 14 December 2006, 19:47 GMT
Thirty years for man who shot Pc
Trevon Kyron Thomas
Thomas was sentenced to 30 years in prison
A man found guilty of the attempted murder of a trainee Nottinghamshire Pc has been jailed for 30 years.

Trinidadian Trevon Kyron Thomas, 24, from Melford Road, Bilborough, Notts, fired three shots at Pc Rachael Bown when she was called to a burglary.

Thomas denied the offence, saying he fired accidentally while overcome by CS gas sprayed by Pc Bown's colleague.

He was convicted by a Nottingham Crown Court jury. He will be deported after serving half his sentence in the UK.

Life-threatening injuries

Pc Bown, who suffered life-threatening injuries when shot in the stomach, smiled as she left the court.

Thomas arrived in the UK from Trinidad in February 2000 on a six-month visitor's visa and then settled illegally in Nottingham.

On Tuesday he was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was jailed for 15 years for the firearms offence, to run concurrently.

Pc Rachael Bown at home
Pc Rachael Bown smiled as she left the court

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Stokes QC told Thomas: "There was, and could not be, any possible justification for you carrying that firearm on the streets of Nottingham.

"As a consequence of your actions, Pc Bown very nearly died and that has to be and will be the major factor in the sentence that I pass."

Judge Stokes added: "Gunning down a police officer with murderous intent, with an intent to escape capture, demands a sentence of the utmost severity."

'No moral justification'

Commenting on the decision to deport Thomas to Trinidad, Judge Stokes said he was satisfied Thomas' continued residence in the UK was not for the "public good".

Defending Thomas, George Trembath QC told the court in mitigation that Thomas was from a good background but had become a victim of a "vicious circle" after becoming involved in a culture of drugs and violence.

"Nothing I say is, or ever could be, an excuse. It seems to be an indisputable fact that in November 2002, the defendant was kidnapped and shot in the leg," said Mr Trembath.

"It is no excuse or legal or moral justification, but perhaps an explanation why he felt the need, utterly misguided though it was, to carry a loaded firearm around the streets of Nottingham."

Jailed for 30 years for attempted murder of a police officer

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