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Death crash police officer jailed | Death crash police officer jailed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former Metropolitan police officer who killed a woman pedestrian while on a personal errand in a patrol car has been jailed for six-and-a-half years. | A former Metropolitan police officer who killed a woman pedestrian while on a personal errand in a patrol car has been jailed for six-and-a-half years. |
Malcolm Searles, 24, admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Sandra Simpson, 61, as he went to deliver a birthday card last August. | Malcolm Searles, 24, admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Sandra Simpson, 61, as he went to deliver a birthday card last August. |
Mrs Simpson died after the crash in Bromley, south-east London. | Mrs Simpson died after the crash in Bromley, south-east London. |
Searles, from Kent, used sirens and blue lights, while speeding, London's Southwark Crown Court heard. | Searles, from Kent, used sirens and blue lights, while speeding, London's Southwark Crown Court heard. |
The court heard how Searles, from North View, Swanley, Kent, had been on a "hair raising joy-ride", during which he was clocked doing 104mph in a 40mph zone. | The court heard how Searles, from North View, Swanley, Kent, had been on a "hair raising joy-ride", during which he was clocked doing 104mph in a 40mph zone. |
Seconds before the crash on 23 August, Searles had been driving at 56mph in a 30mph zone. | Seconds before the crash on 23 August, Searles had been driving at 56mph in a 30mph zone. |
I have lost everything... I loved her so much Peter Simpson, husband | |
After a "prolonged course of dangerous driving" covering a total of 22 miles and lasting over an hour, he hit Mrs Simpson. | After a "prolonged course of dangerous driving" covering a total of 22 miles and lasting over an hour, he hit Mrs Simpson. |
"Had he been driving at the legal limit he would have been able to stop," Michael Mulkerris, prosecuting, told the court. | "Had he been driving at the legal limit he would have been able to stop," Michael Mulkerris, prosecuting, told the court. |
The officer, who was based in Bromley police station, was charged after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated the fatal crash. | The officer, who was based in Bromley police station, was charged after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated the fatal crash. |
He was sacked from the Met in April following disciplinary action. | He was sacked from the Met in April following disciplinary action. |
IPCC investigators found Searles had gone on the personal errand, while on duty, to his sister's house in Swanley, Kent. | IPCC investigators found Searles had gone on the personal errand, while on duty, to his sister's house in Swanley, Kent. |
Later, he tried to lie his way out of trouble, claiming he had been following speeding car he believed had been stolen, Southwark Crown Court heard. | Later, he tried to lie his way out of trouble, claiming he had been following speeding car he believed had been stolen, Southwark Crown Court heard. |
'World fell apart' | |
Mrs Simpson was walking with her husband, Peter, in Homesdale Road at the time. | |
In a statement read to the court, Mrs Simpson's husband said his office receptionist wife "had been my whole world" and since her death he had contemplated suicide. | |
"In short I have lost everything... I loved her so much," he said. | |
"If I had known Mr Searles was rushing to save someone that night that would have been some consolation. | |
"But it was an accident waiting to happen from the moment he drove off." | |
Outside court, Mrs Simpson's son-in-law, Luke Brooks, said, when they were told of the accident, the family's "world fell apart". | |
"Sandy was a real character who loved life and wherever she went, fun and laughter followed," he added. |