Abuser lied to get gun licence before killing family

A man who shot and killed his wife and daughter at Epsom College lied about his anxiety diagnosis when renewing his shotgun licence.

George Pattison shot Emma Pattison and their seven-year-old daughter, Lettie, in February last year. Ms Pattison was head teacher at Epsom College.

When renewing his shotgun licence in 2022, Mr Pattison said he had not been treated for or diagnosed with anxiety. In fact, he was prescribed “a significant amount” of propranolol by an online doctor between 2019 and 2021 to assist with symptoms of the condition.

People can get medication from online doctors without notifying their GP, which a coroner said could see authorities issue licences based on partial information.

Surrey coroner Richard Travers said in a prevention of future deaths report published on Monday: “In consulting an online doctor, it is possible for an applicant for a shotgun licence to avoid the current safeguards relating to full disclosure of the previous and current medical history.”

After killing his family, Mr Pattison, 39, shot and killed himself.

He was issued with a shotgun licence in 2012. In 2016, police were informed of a domestic abuse incident where it was alleged Ms Pattison assaulted her husband.

Mr Pattison's shotgun licence was revoked, but reinstated in December 2016 after a renewal application. It was renewed again in 2022.

The coroner said that no consideration was given as to whether the allegation of assault against Ms Pattison in 2016 was an example of coercive behaviour by Mr Pattison.

Mr Travers said he saw evidence of subsequent domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour by Mr Pattison towards his wife, who was killed aged 45.

He said consideration should be given to how a licensing authority can obtain a full and accurate disclosure of an applicant’s history of coercive and controlling behaviour towards others.

Surrey Police, which issued the shotgun licence, confirmed the force had received the report, which was being reviewed to determine a response to the coroner, but has not yet commented further.

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