An immigrant from Trinidad has been found guilty of the attempted murder of a trainee Nottinghamshire police officer

BBC News:

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

During the trial, Thomas said he had fired the gun accidentally as he was overcome by CS gas sprayed at him by Pc Bown's colleague.

He was also found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court of possessing a firearm.

During the trial Thomas, who is originally from Trinidad and entered the UK in February 2000 on a six-month visitor's visa, told the jury he was carrying the Browning 9mm pistol, loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, for "protection".

He said he had previously witnessed a friend shot dead in the city and had been injured by a firearm himself a few years previously.

But the jury, who were not told about Thomas' immigration status, returned a unanimous guilty verdict on Tuesday.

The jury did not return a verdict on a third charge of possession of a firearm with intent to resist arrest.

Ms Bown, 24, was shot in the stomach while on patrol in the Lenton area of Nottingham on 14 February 2006.

She suffered life-threatening injuries when she was shot below her body armour, while investigating reports of a burglary, and has still not returned to work.

Speaking after the trial, Pc Bown's father, Martin Bown, spoke about the night his daughter was shot.

"On that dreaded night we opened the door to be told of every parent's worst nightmare.

"No-one knows the horror, shock and worry that my wife and our two other daughters suddenly found ourselves in.

"Fortunately we were very lucky," he said.

In court, Thomas said he had fled the scene of the shooting on 14 February as police started to question him, because he was scared he would be caught with a firearm.

Det Ch Insp Dave Giles from Nottinghamshire Police said: "Trevon Thomas is a dangerous man. He went out that night with a firearm.

"When compromised by uniformed officers, he did not hesitate to use it. He showed contempt for human life," he said.

Det Ch Insp Giles added he hoped the guilty verdict would act as a deterrent to others carrying guns.

Police caught up with Thomas as he sat on a plane for Trinidad at London's Heathrow Airport on 17 February.

Thomas will be sentenced at a later date.

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