A police officer who caused the death of a 74-year-old motorcycle passenger while responding to an emergency 999 call has been sentenced to prison, even though the victim's family explicitly asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence.
Details of the Tragic Incident
PC Mark Roberts, aged 57, was driving a marked police vehicle when he went through a red traffic light and collided with motorcyclist Ronald Pinkney and his wife Muriel. The crash occurred on a road with a 30mph speed limit in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in July 2022.
Severe Injuries and Fatal Outcome
Mrs Pinkney sustained fatal head and neck injuries in the impact and tragically died as a result. Her husband, Ronald, suffered a serious brain bleed and multiple fractures, requiring extensive medical treatment and recovery.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Teesside Crown Court on Monday, Roberts was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He received a prison sentence of 27 months.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Roberts was traveling at 43mph as he approached the traffic lights before the collision. He went through a light that had been on 'stop' for six seconds, and was still moving at approximately 25mph when his vehicle struck the couple.
Family's Compassionate Stance
In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, Dawn Hunter-Pinkney, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Pinkney, expressed that the family did not want the former officer to be imprisoned.
'We don't blame the officer for what happened,' she stated. 'We were angry but the more we hear about why the officer was driving the way he was, the more we understand. We do accept this is a very tragic accident with a very tragic outcome, but sending the officer to prison won't bring Mam back.'
Emergency Response Context
The court heard that Roberts was responding to a grade-one emergency call concerning a choking five-week-old baby. The ambulance service had requested police assistance, indicating that paramedics believed they could not reach the infant before officers could arrive.
Roberts explained that he had activated his blue lights and sirens when leaving Whickham police station, proceeding through traffic and red lights as part of his emergency response. Seconds before the collision, he observed a white van making an emergency stop.
'I couldn't see anything else before travelling towards the junction,' Roberts recounted. '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. I believe this was a tragic accident.'
Judge's Sentencing Remarks
Judge Francis Laird KC acknowledged that Roberts was 'heartbroken' by the accident and had led a 'remarkable life of public service,' having served in conflict zones including Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq before joining the police force.
However, the judge emphasized that 'only a custodial sentence can be justified for these offences' and noted that 'your speed as you approached the junction was too high.'
The case highlights the complex balance between emergency response protocols and road safety, particularly when police officers are responding to urgent calls. It also underscores the extraordinary compassion shown by the victim's family, who advocated against imprisonment despite their profound loss.
