A POLICE officer who killed a 74-year-old motorcyclist while speeding though a red light on a 999 call has been jailed.
PC Mark Roberts was given 27-months in prison – despite the victim’s family telling the court he shouldn’t be jailed for “doing his job”.
Ronald and Muriel Pinkney were struck in the horror crash in GatesheadCredit: ITV
PC Mark Roberts has been jailed for 27 months following the incidentCredit: PA
The officer had been responding to an emergency call in a marked police carCredit: NCJ Media
Family of Muriel Pinkney, who died in the crash, said that sending Roberts to prison “won’t bring Mam back.”
The court heard how PC Roberts had been responding to a grade-one emergency call about a choking baby in the moments before the collision.
The 57-year-old was travelling at 43mph as he approached the lights before hitting a couple riding a motorbike on a 30mph stretch of road in , .
PC Roberts, an veteran, was jailed for 27 months at Teesside Crown on Monday, despite a plea from the victim’s daughter.
Ronald Pinkney and his 74-year-old wife Muriel were struck in the horror crash.
Mrs Pinkney tragically died after suffering head and neck injuries, while her husband suffered a bleed on the brain and several fractures.
Dawn Hunter-Pinkney, Muriel’s daughter, said the family “don’t blame the officer for what happened” and that they don’t believe he should be jailed “for doing his job.”
She told the court that her parents had been “inseparable,” and her dad had been left “devastated” by his wife’s death.
The bereaved daughter told the court: “We do accept this is a very tragic accident with a very tragic outcome, but sending the officer to won’t bring Mam back.”
Nevertheless, PC Roberts, who lives in , was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The traffic lights had been red for six seconds before PC Roberts sped through them, the court heard.
He was still travelling at around 25mph when the police car he was driving struck the couple in 2022.
Roberts said the ambulance service had requested assistance about a choking five-week-old baby, signalling that paramedics did not believe they could get to the patient before .
He took the marked car from Whickham police station, activated his blue lights and sirens and made his way through the traffic, he told the court.
The court heard how Roberts was “heartbroken” about the crash, which he described as a “tragic accident.”
PC Roberts was also described as having lived a “remarkable life of public service,” joining the force after serving in the Army in , Yugoslavia and .
But Judge Francis Laird KC told him that “only a custodial sentence can be justified” for the offences.
He told PC Roberts: “Your speed as you approached the junction was too high.
“You observed the junction was clear and you simply chose to drive through without stopping or at least reducing your speed to a point where you could stop should another motorist enter the junction.
“The evidence suggests Ronald and Muriel Pinkney were visible to you when you approached the junction, however you were so focused on getting to your destination you failed to notice them.”
Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Andy Hill offered his condolences to the heartbroken family of Muriel Pinkney.
He added: “Each and every day we respond to emergencies and thankfully tragedies of this nature are extremely rare.
“Officers are highly trained and supported to help ensure they keep both themselves and the public safe.
“Regrettably, on this occasion the standard of driving fell short of what it is expected which has led to the most devastating of outcomes.”
The incident took place on a 30mph stretch of road in Gateshead, Tyne and WearCredit: NCJ Media
PC Roberts told the court he was heartbroken about the incidentCredit: NCJ Media
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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