Man jailed for attempted murder of police officer

A suspected firearms converter who attempted to murder a police officer has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Damian Devine was given a 21 year sentence for attempted murder and five years for possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced to nine years for a series of other offences, including possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing expanding ammunition and possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate, to run concurrently.

Last month, the 27-year-old, from South Croydon, was unanimously found guilty of shooting PC Wayne Stevens in Croydon on July 15, 2011.

The court heard that at about 9pm on the night of July 15, residents in Kingsdown Avenue, South Croydon, became suspicious when they noticed three men – one of whom was later identified as Devine – hanging around, taking photographs of themselves on their mobile phones.

At about 10pm one of the residents called 999 and as a result, a police unit including PC Stevens arrived. Two of the men, one of whom dropped a mobile phone, were arrested. The mobile phone was later found to have photographs taken earlier that evening.

The third man – Devine – ran off and PC Stevens gave chase. Shortly into the pursuit, and with approximately ten feet between them, Devine turned and fired two shots towards the officer.

The first shot hit the officer and the second shot missed. PC Stevens fell to the floor and Devine made off from the scene.

PC Stevens suffered a serious arm fracture and nerve damage and underwent two operations and later required the insertion of a plate and pins, a bone graft and physiotherapy. He was unable to return to work for four months.