A PRISONER warned guards that gunman Raoul Moat would go on to kill once released from jail, an inquest has been told.

Moat told a fellow inmate that he would shoot and kill five people on his release from Durham Prison, including former girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and new partner Christopher Brown.

Just days later, the former bouncer gunned down Mr Brown in cold blood and blasted Miss Stobbart with a shotgun outside her home in Birtley.

The shootings sparked a six-day manhunt for Moat, who eventually took his own life after being cornered in Rothbury, Northumberland.

Today (Tuesday), an inquest into the death of Mr Brown heard from a fellow prisoner, referred to as N1, who told an officer that he believed Moat would end up killing someone.

He told the inquest: "It was sort of an off-the-cuff comment, but I believe I said 'He's a lunatic and will end up killing someone'."

The prisoner said he had made specific threats towards Miss Stobbart and her new boyfriend, a 29-year-old karate instructor.

He told the court: "He indicated that he was going to take some sort of revenge against her and her partner."

At the start of proceedings a statement was read out by Mr Brown's mother, Sally, which said that, since his death, it had been hell for the family.

"His friends said he was like Marmite - either you loved him or you hated him," she said.

"But if you loved him you had a friend for life. He was very loyal, happy-go-lucky and never sat still.

"As soon as he tried karate he said he loved it and was good at it. He enjoyed teaching it and especially teaching children."

She said in the days leading up to his death he had been in good spirits and they had spoken regularly on the phone.

"It has been horrendous for the whole family, I cannot think of anything worse than burying your own child," she said.

"I can only think of one word to describe it - hell."

The court was told that Moat had indicated he intended to commit "suicide by cop", which meant he would put himself in a position where he was shot by the police.

Evidence was also given that in prison he had described very precisely the outside of Ms Stobbart's house and said a large green verge would make spying on her difficult.

Witness N1 said Moat had told him that he would "shoot to kill" five people, who were Ms Stobbart, her mother, her new partner, a psychiatrist and a social worker.

The hearing continues.