Dramatic moment police shoot paedophile who pointed fake rifle at officer outside pub

Ross McGuinness
Simon Tait, left, was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet by a police officer after he pulled out a fake assault rifle. (SWNS)
Simon Tait, left, was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet by a police officer after he pulled out a fake assault rifle. (SWNS) (SWNS)

A police officer shot a paedophile in the leg with a rubber bullet after he pulled out a fake assault rifle outside a village pub.

The firearms officer shot convicted paedophile Simon Tait, 38, after he pointed his imitation M16 machine gun at a police car.

Tait had stormed into his local pub in Surlingham, Norfolk, dressed in full combat gear on Sunday, 23 May.

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He turned up to the pub with a replica gun and threatened to shoot people, causing some to flee and others to hide.

A police firearms officer runs to restrain paedophile Simon Tait. (SWNS)
A police firearms officer runs to restrain paedophile Simon Tait. (SWNS) (SWNS)
The police officer's view of the encounter with a man holding a fake assault rifle in a village pub car park. (SWNS)
The police officer's view of the encounter with a man holding a fake assault rifle in a village pub car park. (SWNS) (SWNS)

Police had gone to the Coldham Hall tavern after Tait phoned the pub and told a member of staff he was heading there and would be armed.

He was confronted by police in the pub car park, and police body worn camera footage shows two officers arriving to find him kneeling on the ground with his rifle pointed directly at their car.

After they got out of their police car, Tait stumbled and pointed his weapon at one of the officers, who shot Tait with a rubber bullet.

He dropped to the ground before the officers put him in handcuffs.

Tait admitted possessing a replica gun, making a threatening call to the pub, assaulting an officer and possessing indecent images of children.

Simon Tait was jailed for four years and four months. (SWNS)
Simon Tait was jailed for four years and four months. (SWNS) (SWNS)

He was jailed for four years and four months after appearing at Norwich Crown Court last week.

Police found more than 1,000 images of child pornography when they searched his home in February following an investigation.

This is the dramatic moment a firearms police officer skillfully took down a suicidal paedophile armed with an imitation machine gun in Surlingham, Norfolk. See SWNS copy SWCAgun: The quick-thinking cop shot Simon Tait, 38, in the leg with a rubber bullet after he pointed his fake M16 assault rifle straight at the officer. Tait - who was found to have 1,000 child porn images in a separate offence - had earlier stormed into his local pub dressed in combat gear on Sunday, May 23.
The view from the police car when officers arrived at the scene. (SWNS) (SWNS)
This is the dramatic moment a firearms police officer skillfully took down a suicidal paedophile armed with an imitation machine gun in Surlingham, Norfolk. See SWNS copy SWCAgun: The quick-thinking cop shot Simon Tait, 38, in the leg with a rubber bullet after he pointed his fake M16 assault rifle straight at the officer. Tait - who was found to have 1,000 child porn images in a separate offence - had earlier stormed into his local pub dressed in combat gear on Sunday, May 23.
A police officer runs to apprehend Simon Tait after he has been shot in the leg. (SWNS) (SWNS)
This is the dramatic moment a firearms police officer skillfully took down a suicidal paedophile armed with an imitation machine gun in Surlingham, Norfolk. See SWNS copy SWCAgun: The quick-thinking cop shot Simon Tait, 38, in the leg with a rubber bullet after he pointed his fake M16 assault rifle straight at the officer. Tait - who was found to have 1,000 child porn images in a separate offence - had earlier stormed into his local pub dressed in combat gear on Sunday, May 23.
Simon Tait, on the ground, had called the pub to say he would be going there armed. (SWNS) (SWNS)

The officer who shot Tait said he used a non-lethal round because he didn't know whether his gun was genuine.

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He also said he believed Tait wanted to provoke a fatal police shooting.

In a statement to the court, the unnamed officer said: "I was faced with any armed officer’s worst nightmare, potentially looking down the barrel of a weapon that could kill me or looking at a plastic toy.

"It's a daunting prospect knowing that I am about to get out of a car with a less lethal option facing a potentially lethal firearms because I want to do everything I can to not kill or seriously injure him."

Tait was treated in hospital after the incident, where he assaulted a police officer by twisting his wrist and trying to spit at him.

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