The man who shot a Shrewsbury police constable dead had been in a stormy eight month relationship with his partner before Sunday’s tragic incident, a close friend claimed today.

Duncan McVean said Peter Medlicott and Mildred Day had been together since they met at a pub in the Castle Gates area of Shrewsbury.

He said there had been a string of arguments throughout their relationship which had started after Ms Day moved back to the county from Wolverhampton.  

Mr McVean, who knew Mr Medlicott for almost 20 years, said he had never got to know his friend’s 33-year-old partner very well in the time they were together.

He said: “It was a very firey relationship. He met her in a pub, but I don’t drink so I didn’t go out to the pub with him. He moved in with Mildred about seven months ago.

“There was a lot of bickering and arguments. Getting alcohol involved would only have made it worse.

“He thought the world of Mildred. All I know is that she had been living over in Wolverhampton, but had moved back to Shrewsbury.”

Mr McVean said his friend had followed countryside pursuits all the time he had known him.

He said although Mr Medlicott worked as a labourer on building sites, he would often earn extra cash using his shooting skills.

He said: “He often used to phone farmers and ask them if they had a problem on their land with things like crows, rabbits and foxes, and then he’d go and shoot them.”

Mr McVean said he last saw Mr Medlicott shortly before 4pm on Saturday when he had seemed calm and relaxed.

He said the tragedy had been a major shock to him and Mr Medlicott’s friends. Geoff Roberts, 34, who lives opposite Mr Medlicott’s flat, said he had known the gunman for a long time.

He said: “We used to work together at a roofing firm. He was a sound lad. With him living here, I have seen a lot more of him recently.”

Mr Roberts said Sunday’s tragic events were completely out of character. He said: “You just do not know what was going through his mind.

“Pete had a nice little job going for him. He worked for his own pest control businesses with his own jeep. He set the business up himself and got it going.

“It’s tragic how it’s ended up,” he added.

By Andy Robbins.