Nottinghamshire Police officer admits causing death of 80-year-old in crash

The Police officer drove a van through a red light

Author: Amelia Salmons and Sophie RobinsonPublished 29th Jan 2026

A police officer who drove a van through a red light when it hit and killed a retired newspaper photographer has admitted causing his death by careless driving.

Trevor Bartlett, 80, died after the collision at a pedestrian crossing on the A52 Derby Road in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on December 19 2023.

Steven Allcock, 33, a police constable with Nottinghamshire Police, was charged after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The constable, of Toton in Nottinghamshire, appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Thursday where he entered his guilty plea.

The court heard the police van he was driving, which had a prisoner "kicking off" in the back, was travelling between 25 and 28mph when it struck Mr Bartlett.

Mr Bartlett, a retired Nottingham Post photographer, had been on the crossing for about seven seconds, while the traffic light was red, when the crash happened.

The IOPC previously said it found that the police van was taking a detainee to a custody facility and was travelling in a bus lane with blue lights and sirens on at the time.

Allcock, who stood in front of the dock wearing a navy suit and blue tie, was a trained response driver, meaning he legally can exceed the speed limit and drive through red lights in some circumstances, the court heard.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Reid said: "When approaching a red light, they must treat it as a stop or give way and ensure the road is clear and have sufficient space to stop if it's not clear.

"The officer was entitled to drive through a red light but he was driving at an inappropriate speed and did not make sure the way was clear."

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said that Allcock "was trying to do the public good and ended up in this tragic circumstance".

He said: "What I have is a man of good character, a serving police officer, with operational duties, driving a police van where someone is... kicking off in the back of that van.

"There appears to be some sort of collision with Mr Bartlett and he's unfortunately killed."

Judge Taaffe added: "I will say this - that there are no winners in this situation. I have the unfortunate family of Mr Bartlett, and Mr Bartlett who has lost his life through no fault of his own.

"Clearly, there have to be consequences for the act that caused that to happen."

The judge adjourned Allcock's sentencing until February 12 and granted him unconditional bail.

The defendant was handed an interim driving ban.

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