Police worker shot during safety demonstration settles claim against Thames Valley Police for six figure sum
20 January 2010
Keith Tilbury, a police civilian worker shot by a police officer
during a safety demonstration, has recovered a six figure sum by
way of compensation. The payment follows an admission of
liability for the incident by Thames Valley Police.
In May 2007 Mr Tilbury, a 56 year old 999 control room operator
from Walton on Thames, was attending a lecture given by a police
firearms training officer who was demonstrating a Dan Wesson .44
Magnum Revolver as part of a talk on the weapons police officers
can come up against. He had taken ammunition from a sweet
tin, believing it to be an inert round. He pointed the
revolver at Mr Tilbury and pulled the trigger. In fact,
the ammunition was live and Mr Tilbury suffered life threatening
bullet wounds.
Paramedics managed to stabilise Mr Tilbury at the scene and then
rushed him to the John Radcliffe Hospital. He suffered major
internal injuries and massive blood loss and underwent life saving
surgery. He was unconscious in intensive care for two weeks and had
a series of operations.
Mr Tilbury has been left with physical injuries and
psychological trauma and has not been able to return to work since
the accident. He instructed Jill
Greenfield, personal injury partner
at law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, in a civil claim against
Thames Valley Police. The claim was settled out of court and Mr
Tilbury was awarded compensation for his injuries.
Jill Greenfield said: “This was an appalling accident. My client
was shot at point blank range whilst attending what should have
been a routine demonstration. Whilst money in itself cannot
compensate for what my client has gone through I would hope that it
will help with the financial burden, given his inability to
work.”
Keith Tilbury said: “In May 2007, during a training class for
999 call operators, the firearms training officer took a revolver,
loaded it and fired it, almost killing me, causing major injuries
and certainly putting an end to my career. I am pleased that Thames
Valley police have acknowledged that mistakes were made and that I
have been awarded compensation that will help me to deal with the
injuries I have suffered and pay for any future treatment that I
may need.”
For further press information please
contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager,
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4120.
Margherita Orlandini, PR
Executive, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4995.