A Greater Manchester Police officer who struck and seriously injured a pedestrian in his liveried car following a pursuit of a suspected drink-driver has received a suspended prison sentence. PC Sam Lockley, 35, pleaded guilty in January this year to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
At a court hearing a month later - in February this year - he received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 15 days of community service. He was also banned from driving for two years.
Investigation and reporting restrictions
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigated the collision in Rochdale in November 2023, said reporting restrictions were placed by a court on the case at the time, which prevented disclosure of the officer's guilty plea and sentence.
But the IOPC, in a statement on Thursday, said the driver of the car that was pursued has now also pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, meaning the reporting restrictions are now lifted. The driver is due to be sentenced next month.
Details of the pursuit and collision
PC Lockley was driving a marked police car when he attempted to stop a suspected drink-driver on Drake Street, Rochdale, in the early hours of November 19, 2023. In the statement, the IOPC said that when he began the pursuit, he reported over the airwaves that his speed was 73mph in a 30mph zone.
"The evidence gathered indicated that PC Lockley failed to slow down as he approached and drove through the red traffic lights at the Kingsway junction and was travelling at a speed of 96mph," said a spokesperson. "The collision occurred when the police vehicle PC Lockley was driving failed to negotiate a right-hand bend, which caused the car to leave the road to its nearside and travel onto the footpath. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision and received extensive medical treatment following the collision."
Expert reports and consequences
The IOPC commissioned a driving expert report and obtained a forensic collision report to assist with our investigation and any conclusion we made about PC Lockley’s manner of driving. According to the forensic collision report, the police vehicle was travelling at approximately 80mph and heavily braking as it entered the bend and in the region of 60mph when it collided with the pedestrian.
An expert report noted that PC Lockley had not addressed hazards prior to the collision which included; warnings of a hump bridge, warning of a junction, a 'Reduce Speed Now' sign, an incline in the road, a lack of visibility beyond the bridge and a building line that indicated there was a likely right-hand bend. "The report concluded that PC Lockley did not drive in accordance with his training and was driving at too high a speed." The collision happened in the Firgrove area.
IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: "My sympathies remain with the man, who sustained serious injuries, and all those affected by the incident. This was a complex investigation which relied on extensive amounts of data and expert analysis and the evidence showed PC Lockley drove at excessive speeds at night-time and although he was responding to a report of a suspected drink driver, it does not excuse his manner of driving.
"PC Lockley admitted he drove in a dangerous manner when he didn't address hazards or warnings during the pursuit and ultimately by the time he saw the pedestrian, he was travelling too fast to avoid a collision. His actions that day have had long-lasting consequences and he has now been held accountable." PC Lockley is now expected to face a gross misconduct hearing over allegations his manner of driving breached police standards, the IOPC said.
