Mr Tilbury, a 57 year old control room operator, was attending a lecture given by a police firearms training officer, PC David Micklethwaite who was demonstrating a Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum Revolver as part of a talk on the kind of weapons police officers can come up against. The gun went off shooting Mr Tilbury. Paramedics managed to stabilise him at the scene and then rushed him to the John Radcliffe hospital where he underwent life-saving surgery.
Mr Tilbury suffered damage to his ribs, liver, kidney and intestines as well as substantial soft tissue damage caused by the trauma and burning to the skin, fat and muscle of the abdomen. He was unconscious in intensive care for two weeks and underwent a number of operations.
Mr Tilbury has been left with physical injuries and psychological trauma and has not been able to return to work since the accident. He is being represented by Field Fisher Waterhouse in a civil claim against Thames Valley Police worth in excess of £300,000.
Jill Greenfield, personal injury partner at Fieldfisher, has been instructed by Mr Tilbury to represent him in his civil claim and has issued a High Court writ.
Jill Greenfield said:
“This was a shocking incident. The criminal prosecution clearly reflects the gravity of the failures that led to this shooting. My client was shot at point blank range whilst attending what should have been a routine demonstration. Whilst my client seeks financial redress, he is currently unable to work of course, it will give him a level of comfort to know that the situation is being taken so seriously by the HSE.”