A SECOND shotgun belonging to Raoul Moat may still be hidden in the countryside where the killer went on the run, a court heard.

Karl Ness, accused of helping Moat, said after the gunman shot three people he went to a lock up in Blaydon, Gateshead, and collected a second weapon.

Prosecutors claim Ness found the shotgun for Moat while he was in prison.

But he claims he thought “the package” he picked up was steroids for the killer.

Ness said he went to collect “some gear” from a man in Cowgate, Newcastle, before Moat was released last summer.

When asked why he had not told the police about the second shotgun Ness replied: “Because I had went to get it.”

He said he believed the bag contained steroids until Moat opened it and unrolled a jumper to reveal a shotgun, the killer remarking “Nice one”.

Cross-examining Ness, Robert Smith QC, prosecuting at the trial of Ness and co-accused Qhuram Awan, who rented the Blaydon unit, asked Ness where the second gun is now.

He replied: “I don’t know, it’s in Rothbury somewhere. I last seen it the night before we were arrested. Raoul had both guns together.”

Ness said Moat had been unable to use the second weapon because his cartridges were the wrong size.

Ness said he and Awan had been relieved to have been “rescued” by police as they headed along the B6344, in Rothbury.

He claimed Awan did a star jump to attract the police helicopter.

Mr Smith asked: “Had you thought to stop any of the eight cars which had driven passed you before the police came, and say ‘For God’s sake help us, we’ve just got away from the gunman Raoul Moat?’.”

Ness replied: “We didn’t, no.” Mr Smith said: “You were trying to get away from the scene without being caught, weren’t you?”

Ness responded: “Being caught for what? We hadn’t done anything.”

Ness went on to deny Mr Smith’s claims he was a liar, insisting he was Moat’s hostage rather than helper.

Ness, 26, of Brookside, Dudley, North Tyneside, and Awan, 23, of Rowley Street, Blyth, are charged with various offences. Ness denies murdering Chris Brown. Both deny conspiracy to murder, the attempted murder of PC David Rathband, a firearms offence and robbery.

The trial continues