A woman who caused a car crash in Newcastle that left a police officer with serious injuries has been fined and banned from driving. Jacquline Robson was behind the wheel of a BMW when she pulled out into the path of a police car that was responding to an emergency call.
The officer driving the car attempted to "veer" out of the way of Robson, and ended up smashing into a number of parked cars, causing a six-vehicle pileup. Another officer, who was a passenger in the car, sustained multiple arm fractures.
Court hearing and guilty plea
On Wednesday, Robson, of Appletree Gardens, Walkerville, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court charged with causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving. The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that on January 15 this year, police were responding to an emergency call regarding two men who were allegedly in possession of a machete near a Newcastle secondary school. Two officers were travelling along Shields Road in one vehicle with blue lights and sirens on.
Prosecution and defence statements
James Rickerby, prosecuting, said: "The defendant has then pulled out of a junction from the right, exiting in front of the [police] vehicle. The police officer driving attempted to veer out of the way before colliding and going into parked cars." The officer who was a passenger in the car sustained "multiple fractures to the left arm". In interview, Robson - who had no previous convictions - said she had not seen or heard the approaching police car.
Jason Boyd, defending, said Robson had a clean driving licence for almost 30 years before the crash and suffers from osteoporosis. He said: "She is aware she will be disqualified from driving and she has not driven since. She has a lifetime of service within the community and was a nurse who had to give up her work due to a cancer diagnosis. She has been in remission since April 2025." Mr Boyd added: "She believes she will never drive again."
Sentence and disqualification
Sentencing Robson, District Judge Zoe Passfield fined her £650 and ordered her to pay £85 costs and a £261 surcharge. She was also banned from driving for 12 months.
