Just doing my job, says Pc shot by gangster

A policeman who narrowly escaped death after a gun-obsessed gangster opened fire on him said today: “I was just doing my job.”

Damian Devine, 28, drew a 9mm handgun and fired two shots as Pc Wayne Stevens chased him down a Croydon street in July last year.

The first shot hit Pc Stevens, 31, in his arm and the second one missed. He had surgery to remove a bullet from his elbow and a bone graft and was off work for four months. But Pc Stevens, who has served with the Met for six years, said he would do it again.

Devine was found guilty of attempted murder and five firearms offences at Kingston crown court. Last week he was jailed for 24 years. Sentencing him, Judge Nicholas Price praised Pc Stevens and said: “This is yet another vivid demonstration of the risks that police officers take on behalf of society to ensure we can all sleep safely in our beds.”

His disregard for his own safety was in the “highest traditions of the police force”. Pc Stevens had been called out over reports that three men were acting suspiciously in Kingsdown Avenue. Residents had seen the men drawing mysterious chalk markings on pavements and doors, putting them in fear of planned burglaries.

Pc Stevens and colleagues gave chase but Devine opened fire. Two men were arrested at the scene but Devine fled and police found him at his brother’s house in Belfast five days later where they found a component of a 9mm gun, which when assembled formed a Beretta self-loading pistol. Tests confirmed that it was the weapon used to shoot Pc Stevens.

A search of Devine’s Croydon home found evidence relating to the conversion of powerful weapons, including parts for an Uzi sub-machinegun.

Pc Stevens, from Woking, Surrey, said: “I’m pleased with the sentence as it means this individual will be off the streets for a long time, making it safer for everyone. What happened will always be in the back of my mind, but I was just doing my job and I would do it again.”

Croydon police borough commander Chief Superintendent Dave Musker said Devine was a dangerous individual with an “unhealthy interest” in guns.