Speaking at a press conference after Knights’ conv

Speaking at a press conference after Knights’ conviction, PC Stephen Cox said he thought he was about to be killed when the maniac brandished the fearsome ‘Bushmaster’ assault rife.

‘With the handgun I was afraid, but I thought we had a chance of keeping going with the pursuit,’ said the father-of-three.

‘But when he produced the assault rifle I honestly thought I was going to die,’ added Pc Cox.

The 43-year-old had been in a squad car with PC Mark Newman, 38, when they spotted Knights’ out of date tax disc.

‘At that stage we had no reason to suspect it was anything other than someone with no insurance or maybe a disqualified driver,’ said PC Newman.

‘It was something that happens fairly often.

‘

When the car stopped the officers thought Knights was going to ‘bail out’ and run off.

But then shots started to ring out and the officers realised Knights was firing at them with a Glock semi automatic pistol.

‘I specifically remember the unreality of it all.

It was just a tax disc and he was trying to shoot us,’ said PC Newman.

‘There was a lot of of noise, our sirens were blaring.

We know now that bullets were striking the car.

PC Cox, who was a firearms instructor in the army said: ‘He produced the assault rifle we now know to be a M16.

‘I thought it was my time to get out of here and take some better cover than we were already in.

‘I dashed behind an adjacent building.

At the same time there was a burst of rounds.

At that time I didn’t know whether it was at me or the vehicle.

‘

PC Newman, who has a five-year-old son said: ‘I didn’t even realise Steve was out of the car.

‘

Knights then drove away and PC Newman tried to chase him.

‘I drove after him but the tyres had been shot out,’ the officer recalled.

PC Cox added: ‘I suppose it was quite comical really.

Mr Knights followed by the police vehicle followed by me shouting.

‘

Detective Sergeant Brian Charmers (corr) said all the officers involved in the incident ‘acted in the highest traditions of the Metropolitan police and should be commended.

‘

He said he did not believe Knights comments about the KLA and Jill Dando had any truth in them.

‘I contacted the Dando inquiry and I can say that the information he possessed did not assist that inquiry at all.

‘

Knights has never had a firearms licence and was not a member of any gun club.

‘The type of weaponry he had came as a surprise to the Metropolitan Police,’ said DS Charmers.

‘I found him to be quite intelligent and articulate.

In a strange way he had respect for institutions like the police and the army.

‘He was not a classic criminal who was disrespectful.

He was very aware of what he had done and he tried to explain why he had done it.

‘He was carrying firearms and ammunition and other such equipment in his car.

Basically, he didn’t want to be stopped and have the risk of his vehicle being searched.

‘So he tried to escape and claimed throughout his interview every incident was just another attempt to escape.

‘

The officer also praised the actions of Mr Hedley Jenkins, the driver of the Audi.

‘Had he not kept calm and complied completely with what he was being asked, it could have ended in more of a tragedy that it did.

‘I have not got enough praise for that man,’ DS Charmers added.

ends