A police marksman has said he had "no choice" but to shoot a man who pointed a homemade shotgun at him.

PC Jeff Braithwaite told an inquest he fired at Steven Dickson because he thought he was going to be shot himself.

Mr Dickson fell immediately after suffering a fatal bullet wound to his chest, while his gun, which was unloaded, dropped down by his side.

Police had been called to a house in Codnor in Derbyshire after Mr Dickson, 30, had threatened his former girlfriend on 1 November last year, Derby Coroners Court heard.

Warning given

Officers calmed him down and convinced him to leave the property but Mr Dickson returned with a gun.

Two armed response vehicles were called in and officers surrounded the house.

PC Jeff Braithwaite fired the fatal shot

PC Braithwaite said he saw Mr Dickson leave the house with the shotgun in his hand and shouted: "Armed police put down your weapon" followed by "drop your weapon or I'll shoot".

But Mr Dickson raised his gun and pointed it at the officer.

PC Braithwaite told the court: "I thought I was about to be shot.

"I immediately fired. I had no doubt about the weapon.

Do it again

"When he brought the gun up I had no other thought in my mind but that I was going to be shot.

"If I was faced with the same situation again I have to say that I would do the same thing."

Mr Dickson's father, Stuart, asked PC Braithwaite at the inquest: "Steven was shot for something that he might do rather than something that he did?"

PC Braithwaite replied: "I felt that Mr Dickson was just about to shoot me. I felt I had no choice."

The inquest is expected to end on Friday.