Police driver guilty of careless driving

Sergeant Askew had been driving to an emergency

Norfolk police sergeant Stephen Askew has been found guilty of careless driving after being involved in a fatal crash while answering a 999 call.

The officer was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving at the end of a trial at Norfolk Crown Court on Thursday.

Motorist David McDermott, from Catfield, Norfolk, died after Sgt Askew's marked car hit his Ford Mondeo from behind as he turned right off the A149 near Potter Heigham, Norfolk, last November.

Sgt Askew, 42, of Martham, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was fined £500.

Text messages

Judge David Mellor said Askew was a "good man seeking to do his duty" who had made a misjudgement.

He said it was not necessary to ban Sgt Askew or impose any endorsement.

The police officer had his blue lights and siren on when he collided with the other car at a speed between 75 and 80mph, the court was told.

The jury heard that 10 minutes before the crash Mr McDermott had made two mobile phone calls, received two text messages and sent two text messages.

Mr McDermott, a 31-year-old welder, died from his injuries the day after the crash.

Sgt Askew denied the charge of dangerous driving.

The court was told that the police officer was responding to an emergency involving a trapped child when the accident happened.

He was overtaking traffic on the A149 when a car suddenly indicated right and pulled out in front of him.

Telephone company records show that Mr McDermott sent his last message about the time of the crash.

The lawyer for Sgt Askew argued that Mr McDermott may have been distracted by his phone when he pulled out in front of the police officer's car.

Misconduct 'considered'

Sgt Askew was trained as a class one driver by the police.

Acting Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk Police, John Bligh, said in a statement: "The circumstances of the collision and the issues that have been raised through the trial are the subject of most careful consideration by the force in terms of any lessons that may be learned.

"The question as to whether any misconduct aspects have arisen will now be considered by the force under the independent scrutiny of the Police Complaints Authority.

"The circumstances of this case are such that the question of the suspension from duty of Sergeant Askew did not arise."