Michael Fitzpatrick inquest: 'He knew police wanted him'

Mr Fitzpatrick was wanted in connection with several armed robberies in Sussex

A wanted man who was shot dead by police in Brighton is likely to have known detectives were looking for him, an inquest has been told.

Michael Fitzpatrick, 49, was shot by officers in Rock Place, in the Kemptown area of the city, on 10 February 2011.

He had pulled out a handgun after officers had stopped him on the street.

Mr Fitzpatrick had received calls from several associates who had been spoken to by officers trying to find him.

Sussex Police had wanted to speak to him in connection with several armed robberies.

Mr Fitzpatrick died from gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen after police opened fire.

He was pronounced dead a short time later at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Officers had arrived in Kemptown after receiving information Mr Fitzpatrick was a regular lunch-time drinker at the Sidewinder pub in Upper St James's Street, the inquest was told.

'Further robberies'

Penny Bailey, Brighton and Hove coroners' officer, said Mr Fitzpatrick pulled out a handgun on tactical firearms officers who had stopped him after receiving reports that he was walking along Rock Place.

The jury heard that Mr Fitzpatrick's DNA had been linked to an armed robbery in a Santander bank in Burgess Hill, on 21 January 2011.

He had injured his hand after becoming stuck in the emergency barrier while trying to climb over the counter to reach the cashiers.

The court heard the robbery had been identical to one at a post office in Burgess Hill on 14 December 2010, and another at a post office a few doors down from the Santander bank, on 24 January 2011.

Det Sgt David Springett said: "There were a number of further post office robberies in the Brighton and Hove area and there was sufficient evidence to speak to him about all of these offences."

The court was told the police only found out after Mr Fitzpatrick's death that he may have known officers were looking for him.

'Police asking about him'

Mr Fitzpatrick's mobile phone records showed calls between him and associate Dustin Sussex, who officers had spoken to in the days before the shooting.

Mr Springett said: "We spoke to Dustin Sussex on 4 February and there were numerous phone calls afterwards, so we know contact was made between them.

"We are assuming he told Mr Fitzpatrick the police had been asking about him," he said.

The Brighton inquest continues.