Darlington police officer jailed over a fatal crash released

PC Mark Roberts, from Darlington, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and seriously injuring another man in a crash that killed 74-year-old Muriel Pinkney, a passenger on a motorbike, near the Metrocentre in Gateshead in July 2022.

He had been responding to an emergency call about a choking baby in a marked Northumbria Police vehicle.

Teesside Crown Court heard that PC Roberts ran a red light that had been on “stop” for six seconds before colliding with Mr and Mrs Pinkney on a 30mph stretch of road.

Mrs Pinkney suffered fatal head and neck injuries but her family said they “did not want him to go to prison for doing his job”.

He was sentenced to 27 months in prison in April, but the Court of Appeal has now reduced and suspended his sentence.

Lady Justice Andrews, delivering the judgment alongside Mr Justice Jay and Mrs Justice Thornton, said: “This was not a case of prolonged dangerous driving.”

She described it as an “exceptional case” and acknowledged PC Roberts’ long career of public service and the harm his imprisonment was having on his family, including his disabled daughter.

PC Roberts appeared emotional and was seen wiping his eyes as judges quashed his 27-month sentence and replaced it with a two-year sentence suspended for 18 months.

During sentencing, the family of Mrs Pinkney said they did not blame the officer and did not want him to go to prison.

Dawn Hunter-Pinkney, the couple’s daughter, said in a victim impact statement: “For a long time we were angry but the more we hear about why the officer was driving the way he was, the more we understand.

“We don’t want him to go to prison for doing his job.

“We do accept this is a very tragic accident with a very tragic outcome, but sending the officer to prison won’t bring mam back.”

PC Roberts was suspended from Northumbria Police.

His barrister, Luke Ponte KC, argued that the original sentence was “manifestly excessive” and did not fully consider the “exceptional mitigation” in the case, including PC Roberts’ professional record and the circumstances of the emergency call.

The court heard that PC Roberts had a lifetime of public service and had responded to numerous emergency incidents throughout his career.

At the end of the hearing, three appeal judges ruled the sentence should be reduced and suspended, meaning Roberts can be released from custody.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill issued a statement after the sentencing, saying: “I reiterate my previous comments in recognising that no words will make the pain of Mr Pinkney, his family and anyone impacted by this tragic incident, any easier.

“On behalf of Northumbria Police, I wish to express my sincere condolences for your loss and our thoughts very much continue to be with you at this time.”