Police officer who knocked down moped rider avoids jail
The PC was driving at 47mph in a 30mph zone
A police officer who knocked over and killed a moped rider while responding to an emergency call has avoided jail.
Met PC Ian Brotherton was driving at 47mph in a 30 mph zone when his marked vehicle crashed into 26 year old Cristopher De Carvalho Guedes
The 32 year old denied causing death by dangerous driving but admitted causing death by careless driving.
He was sentenced to 6 months suspended for 18 months and will now face a misconduct hearing.
On Thursday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC acknowledged the defendant's remorse, but said: "As a trained police driver driving in connection with your duties your driving must be judged according to those standards.
"Footage of the incident has been played in court and subject to expert analysis."
The defendant was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for 30 months.
The court was told Mr Guedes was wearing a motorcycle helmet which would have reduced his ability to hear the sirens on the oncoming police vehicle, although there was no suggest he was at fault.
Mr Guedes' family attended his sentencing by video link from Brazil and described him in a statement as a "joy", "irreplaceable" and a talented footballer.
They called for the officer to be dismissed for the "30-second" error that changed their lives.
Mitigating, Robert Morris said: "This is something Mr Brotherton thinks about each and every day.
"This is a tragic incident and it unfortunately had such a devastating impact on Mr Guedes and his family. Mr Brotherton wishes he could turn back time and do things differently on that day.
"He was responding to something he thought was a genuine emergency. He believed his sirens, his lights would have been noticed by other road users.
"He got that terribly wrong. He thought the bus was holding back the other traffic and allowing him to pass."
He said it was a "lapse of judgment over mere moments".
Rachael Taylor, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Christopher De Carvalho Guedes.
"Pc Ian Brotherton was a police response driver and had undertaken training, which included how to safely approach and negotiate traffic lights showing red when engaged on an emergency call.
"But his driving on that day fell below the standard expected of an officer trained to be on London's roads in such circumstances.
"It is only right that he has been held to account for his actions, which led to this tragic death."
Commander Hayley Sewart, responsible for local policing in north London, said: "The family and friends of Cristopher de Carvalho Guedes have lost a loved one due to the careless driving of one of our officers.
"I know there is little I can say that will alleviate the pain they will be suffering but I hope today's result brings some form of closure.
"We train our officers to the highest driving standards, and when these are not met it is only right that they are held accountable."
Charges were brought against Brotherton at the conclusion of the investigation by watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The court was told Brotherton faces a police misconduct hearing on March 26.
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