A Cleveland Police officer, PC David French, has been acquitted of charges of driving without due care and attention following a trial at Teesside Magistrates Court.
This conclusion comes after an earlier hearing on November 25, 2022, where PC French denied the charges.
The case, however, was not without controversy, with the district judge expressing frustration over the way the prosecution’s evidence was presented in court.
The officer was charged after an incident that occurred on May 22, 2022, when PC French, while driving a marked police van on Grewgrass Lane in Marske, collided with a Vauxhall Corsa.
The collision resulted in serious injuries to the occupants of the Corsa, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) initiated an independent investigation following a referral from Cleveland Police.
The inquiry included a review of body-worn video from the police officers present at the time of the incident, statements from witnesses, and interviews with the officers involved.
Upon concluding their investigation in October 2022, the IOPC referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which subsequently authorised the charge against PC French.
In his initial account, PC French claimed that the police van was stationary at the time of the collision.
However, a review of the body-worn video footage led Cleveland Police to refer the incident to the IOPC, following which PC French admitted that the police van had indeed pulled out onto the road before the collision occurred.
Despite these findings, during the verdict delivered on June 13, the judge ruled that while PC French had been distracted, resulting in the collision, his actions did not reach the criminal standard of proof needed for conviction.
This ruling came amid judicial concerns regarding the case’s evidence management.
District Judge Helen Cousins had voiced her dissatisfaction, stating that it was “outrageous” that the case had been brought to court without the necessary paperwork being served.
The judge noted the absence of the full accident investigation report, highlighting a lack of proper service that prompted defence solicitor Julian Gaskin to remark on the “protracted investigation” with “a lot of issues”.
IOPC Regional Director Emily Barry said:
“My sympathies remain with the two young occupants of the Vauxhall Corsa, who sustained serious injuries, and all those affected by the incident in May 2022.
“This incident has had a profound impact on the lives of these young people and their families, and this is something they will have to live with for many years to come.
“Given the seriousness of the allegation, it was right for the evidence to be tested in a public court.
“It was a matter for the judge, applying a far higher evidential threshold than the one we must use when considering referral to the CPS, to determine whether PC French drove without due care and attention, and I am grateful for their careful consideration of this case.”
The IOPC added that it found that PC French, whose conduct was also under investigation, had a case to answer for gross misconduct concerning his driving prior to the collision and that it will be for Cleveland Police to arrange a disciplinary hearing in due course.
Before you go...
In a world where mainstream media narratives often eclipse the harsh realities faced by our valiant men and women in the emergency services, we at Emergency Services News have made it our mission to bring these overlooked stories into the spotlight.
Our team is exclusively composed of dedicated volunteers, all veterans of the emergency services. They commit their time and expertise to this cause, not for financial gain, but out of a shared passion to honour their colleagues and dispel the misconceptions that mainstream media perpetuates.
Despite running at a loss, we persist. We believe in the importance of our mission - to elevate the dignity and courage of those who risk their lives for us every single day. But we need your help.
Your donation directly sustains ESN, enabling the continuous delivery of authentic, critical stories often overlooked by mainstream media. We deeply appreciate your support, which enables us to further our mission of delivering important, underreported stories. Thank you for standing with us and thank you for supporting our team of former emergency services & HM Forces personnel.
You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.
Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.
