Court told of Raoul Moat's 'I'll be back inside' boast

Raoul Moat went on the run for a week after the shootings

Raoul Moat boasted to a barber "I'll be back inside by Friday" shortly before shooting three people with a shotgun, a court has been told.

The claims were heard at Newcastle Crown Court at the trial of two men accused of helping the gunman.

Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan deny the attempted murder of a policeman who was shot and blinded by Moat, 37.

Mr Ness is also charged with the murder of Chris Brown, the partner of Moat's ex-girlfriend, a charge he denies.

Mr Brown was shot three times by Moat on 3 July. He then shot former girlfriend Sam Stobbart, 22, through the window of her mother's house in Birtley. She survived.

'Bent on revenge'

The court heard the former doorman, who had been released from Durham Prison hours earlier, told the barber as his hair was being cut: "I have got a few things to do and I've got a few arses to kick.

"I'll probably be back inside by Friday."

Prosecutor Robert Smith QC told the court that Moat had become obsessed that Ms Stobbart was seeing another man after ending their six-year relationship.

The court heard Moat shot Chris Brown three times

He was determined to track down her new boyfriend and was bent on revenge.

Moat enlisted the help of his former business partner Mr Ness, 26, and Mr Ness's friend Mr Awan, 23, the court was told.

The pair were arrested in Rothbury, Northumberland, days before Moat shot himself on 10 July after a six-hour stand-off with police.

He had been on the run for a week following the shootings.

The court heard that karate instructor Mr Brown had started a relationship with Moat's ex-girlfriend Sam Stobbart, 22, while the ex-bouncer was in prison.

Moat shot Mr Brown three times, which required him to re-load the weapon.

"That fact alone will give you some idea of Raoul Moat's intentions when he fired that gun," Mr Smith said.

Moat then shot Ms Stobbart through the window of her mother's house in Birtley, Tyneside.

Mr Smith told the jury: "The events in question arise out of the actions of a man named Raoul Moat, who in the course of less than 24 hours shot and killed one man and used the same weapon, a shortened double-barrelled shotgun, to inflict severe and life-threatening injuries on two other people."

'Shoot police'

He added: "The case which you are to try involves two men who, the prosecution say, were Moat's willing accomplices.

"Both men were also parties to a criminal conspiracy to commit offences which also involved Raoul Moat effectively to shoot police officers."

Less than 24 hours after targeting the couple in Birtley, Moat shot Pc David Rathband in Denton Burn, Newcastle.

Mr Smith said: "The following day Moat entered a fish and ship shop in Seaton Delaval carrying the weapon he had used in the preceding two days. He threatened the proprietor and staff and forced them to hand over takings."

Mr Ness denies the murder of Mr Brown, attempting to murder Pc Rathband, one charge of conspiracy to murder, one charge of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and one of robbing a shop.

Mr Awan denies the attempted murder of Pc Rathband, one charge of conspiracy to murder, one charge of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and one of robbing a shop.

The trial, which could last five weeks, continues.