The manhunt surrounding Raoul Moat was one the craziest moments in UK history because nothing like that ever really happens over here, even if it is mainly remembered now for Paul Gascoigne turning up with a six pack, a fishing rod and a bucket of KFC in possibly one of the most surreal moments ever.

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That bizarre intervention has somewhat distracted people from the fact that Moat was a vicious thug who murdered his ex girlfriend’s new partner and another one of his ex girlfriends is worried about that the new ITV series ‘ The Hunt For Raoul Moat’ might glorify the guy. Caroline Dodd dated Moat for a year and is the mother of his oldest child Katelaine Fitzpatrick and had the following to say about it:

This series will throw Raoul Moat back into the limelight and glorify his crimes.

He would have loved it. He doesn’t deserve that, or the admiration that comes with it. He was referred to as a ‘hero’ at the time and this will bring that back.

He should never be seen as a role model. He was a narcissist and a bully. He has always been violent, scary and aggressive. He was abusive to me and many other partners.

This is not just a drama, it happened to real people who are still trying to heal.

I still suffer from PTSD, depression and anxiety as a result of Raoul’s abuse.

Even now I think ‘it could have been me’. It wouldn’t surprise me if I was on his hit list.

I had an injunction against him because of the abuse which interfered with his bouncer job. I only found out how close I was to him after I was swept away into protective custody while he was on the run.

I had just returned from a holiday with the kids. It was a very normal day, we had got the shopping in and unpacked it.

I switched on the telly and heard about the murders and moments later the police rang telling us we needed to leave in case he came after us.

It was completely surreal.

I can see what the Dodd is saying there and most of what she’s saying is correct, but it kinda sounds like she’s making these criticisms without actually watching the show herself. I haven’t seen it myself either, but screenwriter Kevin Sampson has stated he hopes that it goes someway to dispelling the myth of Moat as a ‘legend’ and condemning that narrative, focussing instead on the brutality of his crimes against women, so it sounds like he’s trying to achieve the opposite of what Dodd is worried about here?

Hopefully that’s how it comes across, but there is always a worry with how these things are interpreted in the age of Andrew Tate and everything else out there. I won’t be watching it myself – it just doesn’t really interest me – but maybe someone can let us know?

For more of the same, check out when someone created a version of FIFA with Raoul Moat, Donald Trump and Barack Obama playing amongst others. Commentary is on point.