Settlement for family of ‘fireball’ Taser victim

The family of a man who died when he was turned into a human fireball after being shot by a police officer with a Taser while soaked in petrol have received an out-of-court financial settlement.

Andrew Pimlott, 32, had poured the fuel over himself when Pc Peter Hodgkinson fired the 50,000-volt weapon at him during a domestic incident in the back garden of his parents’ house on the evening of April 18, 2013.

Pc Hodgkinson and his colleague Pc David Beer had answered a 999 call from Mr Pimlott’s father, Kelvin, reporting his son was carrying a jerry can of petrol, may have a lighter and was breaching a restraining order imposed by magistrates to stay away.

Just 41 seconds after the two officers arrived at the scene in Honicknowle, Plymouth, Mr Pimlott erupted into flames — dying five days later from severe burns.

In a narrative conclusion, the inquest jury ruled the Taser was the “most likely” cause of Mr Pimlott catching fire. But the panel said Pc Hodgkinson’s actions were “in accordance” with his training.

Now Kelvin Pimlott and his wife Jean have been awarded an undisclosed sum by Devon and Cornwall Police.

The husband and wife, who have both been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, will receive ongoing counselling as part of the settlement.

It comes just days after ex-Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson died when he was shot with a police Taser.