CRIMINAL charges will not be brought against two Surrey Police staff members under investigation for returning guns seized from Tilford double-murderer John Lowe, 84, who is serving a life sentence for shooting his partner Christine Lee and her daughter Lucy in February 2014.

Surrey Police seized the licensed firearms following an allegation that Lowe had made threats to use them in March 2013.

The allegations were later withdrawn and in July 2013 a decision was taken to return the firearms to him, after Lowe complained he had lost 80 hens. Seven months later, Lowe shot and killed both women as they tried to make their escape from his home at Keepers Cottage Stud in Waverley Lane.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) held to investigate Surrey Police’s decision to give Lowe back his guns, recommended in February 2016 that two staff members should face gross misconduct hearings.

One was dismissed without notice in November 2016 and the other had already quit the force.

The investigation was also referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which announced last Thursday it had decided not to bring criminal charges against the individuals.

A CPS spokesman said: “Following careful consideration we have concluded there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic chance of convicting two civilian officers from Surrey Police in connection with the return of John Lowe’s shotguns in July 2013.

“Therefore, the CPS will not be taking any further action against them.”

Surrey Police is now awaiting publication of the full report by IPCC. An IPCC spokesman said: “The investigation concerning Surrey Police’s decision to return firearms to John Lowe concluded in February 2016 and found there was sufficient evidence to recommend the two staff investigated should face gross misconduct hearings.

“The investigation report was also referred to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided not to bring criminal charges against the three individuals.

“Surrey Police agreed with the misconduct recommendations and the force held a hearing for one individual, who was dismissed without notice in November. The second individual retired before a hearing could take place.

“Following the conclusion of associated proceedings, we will be liaising with all interested parties concerning the publication of our investigation findings in the near future.”

The IPCC report was put on hold until the conclusion of the trial involving Lowe and Stacey Banner, Christine Lee’s daughter, who were both accused of defrauding Lowe’s former partner Susanna Wilson of more than £1,000 in the months before her death, aged 84, in 2013.

Lowe had lived at Keeper’s Cottage Stud with Ms Wilson for almost 50 years. Mrs Banner’s husband Andrew Banner was accused of acquiring money which was the proceeds of fraud.

Banner, a 42-year-old carer, was convicted of five charges of fraud at Guildford Crown Court on January 20 but reporting restrictions were only lifted last week. The decision was made not to proceed with the Lowe trial, as it was not deemed to be in the public interest.

Banner, of Oldbury in West Midlands, was convicted of fraud totalling £107,950 and sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. Her husband was found not guilty.

The court heard that she and Lowe withdrew the money from the Farnham Lloyds TSB bank account of Lowe’s dying partner. They were accused of taking advantage of her dementia to “pillage” her accounts.

Last week, a move to obliterate all traces of Lowe’s sprawling farm, including many outbuildings erected without consent, was rejected by Waverley planners.

The application to demolish all the buildings on the secluded 1.9 acre woodland site and build two futuristic eco-style five bedroom homes, followed a previous proposal for three new houses, which was refused by Waverley as “overbearing” within the green belt.

The latest plan, which triggered 37 letters of objection and 28 letters in support, was condemned by Tilford Parish Council as “totally hideous”.

Speaking in support of the applicant, Graham Bell said: “This is a site with a history and it needs a new chapter in life.

“We have tried to make an unacceptable scheme of three houses into an acceptable scheme of two houses. They are buildings of quality and high architectural design and an enhancement of all the buildings being removed.”

Farnham councillor Carole Coburn said: “We should refuse this application for the same reasons as the last. There has been a slight change but it is urbanisation on an unacceptable scale in the green belt.”

Waverley southern committee planning chairman Haslemere councillor Peter Isherwood told Wednesday’s meeting: “I remember the puppy farm and the other things going on there as most distasteful.

“The puppy farm was abominable and many buildings did not have planning consent but they became a legal entity after four years. It was sad we didn’t have the necessary information to take enforcement. When we did other events had taken over. But I won’t go into that little matter.”