Man attempted suicide by cop

A SUICIDAL Suffolk man threatened to point a gun at armed officers in a bid to force them to shoot him, a court heard.Philip Maddocks, who was suffering from depression, also reprimanded the officers about the speed of their response time by saying "I could have killed six people by now", Ipswich Crown Court was told.

A SUICIDAL Suffolk man threatened to point a gun at armed officers in a bid to force them to shoot him, a court heard.

Philip Maddocks, who was suffering from depression, also reprimanded the officers about the speed of their response time by saying "I could have killed six people by now", Ipswich Crown Court was told.

When police finally got to Maddocks they saw him put an object, which turned out to be an unloaded revolver on the ground, said Michael Crimp prosecuting.

Judge Gareth Davies yesterday decided not to send Maddocks to prison and instead passed a 12 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months, and made him the subject of a 12 month supervision order.

The Judge said he felt able to take that course as the revolver had not been loaded and the only harm was directed at Maddocks himself.

Maddocks, 30, of Steggall Close, Needham Market, admitted possessing a fire arm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Mr Crimps said that on February 26 police were called to a domestic dispute by a woman who feared that Maddocks was going to kill himself with a gun.

A number of telephone calls followed between the police and Maddocks in which he said he was going to point a gun at the first armed officer he saw so that the police would shoot him.

Simon Spence, for Maddocks, said the incident the court had heard about was the culmination of a long period of depression.

He said in the days leading up to the incident Maddocks had tried to gas himself in his car on two occasions but had been prevented from doing so by other people.

He said Maddocks still suffered from depression but was more positive about his future.