Cheltenham PC Ruaidhri Stewart guilty of driving without due care and attention
Cheltenham PC Ruaidhri Stewart was driving without due care and attention when he knocked over a motorcyclist in Lansdown Road last year, a court has ruled.
Following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission PC Stewart was found guilty of the charge at North Avon Magistrates Court yesterday.
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The IPCC probe related to a collision on March 22 last year.
Nicholas Austin, who was riding a motorcycle, was seriously injured when he collided with a marked Gloucestershire police Ford Focus estate car outside the Lansdown Road police station.
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The collision occurred when Mr Austin crossed a set of traffic lights on his motorcycle at the crossroads with Talbot Road and Christchurch Road at about 7pm.
He was struck by the police car driven through a red light by PC Stewart, who was crossing the traffic light junction from Talbot Road.
IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said: "Our investigation found sufficient evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges against PC Stewart.
"The court found PC Stewart guilty and he was fined £2,771 and six penalty points.
"This means that he has been disqualified from driving for six months. Gloucestershire Constabulary are now considering disciplinary action.
"Because he was a witness in the trial the IPCC has not yet been able to share its report with Mr Austin but once we have done that we will publish it on our website."
A statement from Gloucestershire police said it respected the court's decision.
It said: "Our thoughts are with the man seriously injured in the incident.
"As a result of the court's finding we will now consider whether internal disciplinary action is required.
"The officer concerned will remain suspended from driving and will be required to undergo assessment by the driver training unit before returning to normal duties."
Comments
by IsitJimKerr
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:53PM
“Hillsborough, Plebgate, now this.....................
A colleague told me years ago, that we were becoming a Police state, he was right.”