Police Officer Found Guilty of Fatal Dangerous Driving Offence
A serving police officer has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving after a collision that killed a 74-year-old woman while he was responding to an emergency call. PC Mark Roberts, 57, was speeding through a red light in Gateshead in July 2022 when his marked police vehicle struck a motorbike carrying Ronald and Muriel Pinkney.
Emergency Response Turned Tragic
The incident occurred as Roberts rushed to attend a grade-one emergency call concerning a five-week-old baby who had stopped breathing and was choking. According to prosecution evidence, the ambulance service had requested police assistance, indicating that paramedics believed officers could reach the scene more quickly.
Forensic collision investigators calculated that Roberts was travelling at speeds of up to 49mph in a 30mph zone as he approached the junction. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that he failed to apply full emergency braking before the collision and did not treat the red light as a stop or give way as required by police training protocols.
Jury's Swift Verdict and Multiple Convictions
At Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday, a jury took just 56 minutes to find Roberts guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He had previously admitted the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving but denied the more serious offence.
The officer was also convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Mr Pinkney, who suffered a bleed on the brain, multiple fractures including broken ribs, and a leg fracture requiring surgery. Expert analysis confirmed that Mr Pinkney, 81, had the right of way at the junction.
Officer's Account and Aftermath
In a statement read to the court, Roberts described the moments before the collision, noting that he had seen a white van make an emergency stop but couldn't see anything else before approaching the junction. 'The next thing I recall is there was a bang and both airbags deployed and I hit the windscreen, which knocked me out for a few seconds,' he stated.
Roberts, who has been suspended by Northumbria Police, offered his 'sincere condolences' to Mrs Pinkney's family but maintained that he believed the incident was 'a tragic accident.' He was arrested after the collision and answered 'no comment' to questions during his formal police interview.
Legal Proceedings and Official Responses
Judge Francis Laird KC granted Roberts bail ahead of sentencing scheduled for April 7, noting that he would benefit from a pre-sentence report. The judge acknowledged that Roberts was 'a serving police officer responding to an emergency and who, of course, never intended to cause anyone any harm.'
Gavin Hotchkiss of the CPS commented after the conviction: 'This was a tragic and avoidable incident. While PC Roberts was responding to an emergency, he had a duty to drive with due care and attention to the safety of others.'
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill of Northumbria Police expressed condolences to the Pinkney family, stating: 'Regrettably, on this occasion the standard of driving fell short of what is expected which has led to the most devastating of outcomes.' He confirmed the case had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, whose investigation led to the prosecution, and that Roberts will now face a misconduct hearing.
The prosecution emphasised during the trial that police guidance clearly states that risk-taking, even in what might be considered a 'noble cause,' is not justified when it endangers public safety.
