crossbow

"Clifford has again shown himself to be a coward. Clifford armed himself with a crossbow and knife in order to attack three innocent women," he said.

A Labour MP has said tightening the law around crossbow sales is "important" as an ex-soldier who murdered a woman and her two daughters awaits sentence.

The trial heard that in the days leading up to the murders, Clifford bought a crossbow online, and a replica Glock air pistol from a shop in Essex.

The force took the unusual step of telling the public Clifford was believed to have a crossbow, and made a direct appeal to him.

He then went to his car to collect a crossbow, before returning and lying in wait for Louise Hunt, who was running her dog grooming business in a pod in the garden.