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Killer Raoul Moat's former cellmate had a tattoo done in tribute when the gunman died - but the name is wrongly spelt.

Nathan Flynn was in Durham prison with Moat just before the deranged Geordie went on the rampage.

After Moat killed himself in a stand-off with police, Nathan, 26, had his right arm tattooed but it reads "RIP Raul Moat".

It also says "Born 01.01.1978" despite correctly giving the age of death as 37. Moat was actually born on June 17, 1973.

Nathan, who was behind bars for an attack on a cancer sufferer who was left with a fractured skull, said he would attend the fugitive's funeral in Newcastle today.

Moat shot his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, 22, and her new boyfriend Chris Brown, 29, in Birtley, Gateshead, leaving him dead and her seriously wounded.

He then blinded PC David Rathband, 42, by firing into his face in Newcastle. But Nathan said: "As soon as I heard he died I went and got a tattoo.

"What he did shocked me in comparison to what he was like inside. Something definitely triggered him off to do what he did because he was a gentle giant."

Moat, who served 18 weeks for attacking a child, declared war on police officers after he was told Samantha had fallen for one.

Nathan, of Middlesbrough, recalled: "I think she told him she was leaving him. That's the only time I saw him aggressive and angry. He slammed the phone down."

Bouncer Moat claimed his hatred of police began when he caught three officers snorting cocaine in a club toilet.

In tapes released for the first time yesterday, he said a police "cover up" led to him getting the sack as a doorman but the allegations were never substantiated.

Moat was due to be cremated this afternoon at Newcastle's West Road crematorium. His uncle Charlie Alexander, 72, said a "big turn out" of friends was expected.

Pal Tony Laidler, 35, said the ashes were likely to be scattered by the river in Rothbury, Northumberland, where he died.