The gunman who tried to shoot dead Wolverhampton community policeman Pc Geoff King has launched a bid to have his jail sentence slashed, it emerged today.

Marcus Bailey, aged 25, was jailed for life for shooting Pc King twice and leaving him for dead in the Penn Fields area of the city.

But he has now launched an appeal in an effort to win a reduction in the minimum 15-year term he was ordered to spend behind bars.

Bailey’s bid, which comes on the back of a failed prosecution attempt to get the sentence increased, was today criticised by Pc Paul Tonks, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation.

He said: “He should be off the streets for life. Any time he’s allowed back onto the streets, I’ve got no doubt he will remain a constant threat to police officers.”

After he was convicted of attempted murder at a trial in June, prosecutors launched a bid to get his sentence increased which failed at an early stage.

Pc King, aged 33, and colleague Pc Karl Ansell a year ago tomorrow, when they spotted Bailey acting suspiciously. Pc King confronted the thug. He then fired three times – hitting him twice.

The Royal Courts of Justice in London confirmed an appeal on behalf of Bailey was under way, but no date has yet been set for a hearing.