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| Family of man who died after police Tasering receive payout | |
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| The family of a man who died after being Tasered by police while soaked in petrol have agreed to an out-of-court financial settlement. | The family of a man who died after being Tasered by police while soaked in petrol have agreed to an out-of-court financial settlement. |
| Andrew Pimlott, 32, had poured the fuel over himself before PC Peter Hodgkinson fired the 50,000-volt weapon at him in the back garden of his parents’ house in Plymouth on the evening of 18 April 2013. | Andrew Pimlott, 32, had poured the fuel over himself before PC Peter Hodgkinson fired the 50,000-volt weapon at him in the back garden of his parents’ house in Plymouth on the evening of 18 April 2013. |
| Hodgkinson and his colleague PC David Beer had gone to the house after Pimlott’s father made a 999 call reporting that his son was carrying a jerry can of petrol, may have been carrying a lighter and was breaching a court order to stay away. | Hodgkinson and his colleague PC David Beer had gone to the house after Pimlott’s father made a 999 call reporting that his son was carrying a jerry can of petrol, may have been carrying a lighter and was breaching a court order to stay away. |
| Pimlott was engulfed in flames and died in hospital five days later from severe burns. | Pimlott was engulfed in flames and died in hospital five days later from severe burns. |
| An inquest jury concluded that the Taser was the most likely cause of Pimlott catching fire. The jury said they did not know whether he had been holding a lit match at the time, as both officers claimed, but that Hodgkinson’s actions were in accordance with his training. | An inquest jury concluded that the Taser was the most likely cause of Pimlott catching fire. The jury said they did not know whether he had been holding a lit match at the time, as both officers claimed, but that Hodgkinson’s actions were in accordance with his training. |
| Pimlott’s parents, Kelvin and Jean, have now been awarded an undisclosed sum by Devon and Cornwall police. Both have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and will receive ongoing counselling as part of the settlement. | Pimlott’s parents, Kelvin and Jean, have now been awarded an undisclosed sum by Devon and Cornwall police. Both have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and will receive ongoing counselling as part of the settlement. |
| Kelvin Pimlott said: “We are relieved to have reached the end of this process but it hasn’t changed our view that the use of Tasers needs to be very carefully restricted, especially where there are flammable substances. | Kelvin Pimlott said: “We are relieved to have reached the end of this process but it hasn’t changed our view that the use of Tasers needs to be very carefully restricted, especially where there are flammable substances. |
| “My boy was unarmed and posed no threat to anyone. He poured petrol over himself to get attention. He was deeply frustrated and needed help. He didn’t want to die. If the police had used any other method then my son would still be alive today. | “My boy was unarmed and posed no threat to anyone. He poured petrol over himself to get attention. He was deeply frustrated and needed help. He didn’t want to die. If the police had used any other method then my son would still be alive today. |
| “Time and time again, Tasers are proving lethal and they clearly require much more stringent regulation and training to prevent further unnecessary deaths.” | “Time and time again, Tasers are proving lethal and they clearly require much more stringent regulation and training to prevent further unnecessary deaths.” |
| The family’s solicitor, Ali Cloak, said: “While no amount of compensation will ever make up for what they saw or for the loss of their son, I hope that the settlement will provide some sort of closure and allow them to start rebuilding their lives.” | The family’s solicitor, Ali Cloak, said: “While no amount of compensation will ever make up for what they saw or for the loss of their son, I hope that the settlement will provide some sort of closure and allow them to start rebuilding their lives.” |
| During the inquest in Plymouth last year, the officers said Andrew Pimlott was was holding a lit match and they had no other choice in trying to save his life but to Taser him. | During the inquest in Plymouth last year, the officers said Andrew Pimlott was was holding a lit match and they had no other choice in trying to save his life but to Taser him. |
| A pathologist said there was no medical evidence to say how Pimlott had caught fire, but a forensic scientist said it was his opinion as an experienced fire investigator that the Taser was the cause. | A pathologist said there was no medical evidence to say how Pimlott had caught fire, but a forensic scientist said it was his opinion as an experienced fire investigator that the Taser was the cause. |
| Following the incident a single match was recovered from the garden and a box of matches was found in Pimlott’s trouser pocket. | Following the incident a single match was recovered from the garden and a box of matches was found in Pimlott’s trouser pocket. |
| Hodgkinson was cleared of gross misconduct following an internal disciplinary hearing. | Hodgkinson was cleared of gross misconduct following an internal disciplinary hearing. |
| A police spokeswoman said: “This has been an extremely distressing matter for all those involved. Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time. | A police spokeswoman said: “This has been an extremely distressing matter for all those involved. Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time. |
| “Whilst the outcome of the inquest in 2015 did indicate that the Taser was the most likely cause of the ignition, no criticism was levied at the force or the officer, and confirmed the officer had used his Taser in accordance with national training. | “Whilst the outcome of the inquest in 2015 did indicate that the Taser was the most likely cause of the ignition, no criticism was levied at the force or the officer, and confirmed the officer had used his Taser in accordance with national training. |
| “The matter was independently investigated by the IPCC, following which the officer answered the case against him in a subsequent hearing which determined his actions to be appropriate. | “The matter was independently investigated by the IPCC, following which the officer answered the case against him in a subsequent hearing which determined his actions to be appropriate. |
| “The force has tried to avoid any further distress for Mr Pimlott’s family, which included making a decision to settle the civil claim in light of the fact they have already endured a series of legal and regulatory processes which examined their son’s death. We hope this brings some closure for Mr Pimlott’s family.” | “The force has tried to avoid any further distress for Mr Pimlott’s family, which included making a decision to settle the civil claim in light of the fact they have already endured a series of legal and regulatory processes which examined their son’s death. We hope this brings some closure for Mr Pimlott’s family.” |