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| Pepe Belmonte cycle crash: PC David Lynch found guilty | Pepe Belmonte cycle crash: PC David Lynch found guilty |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A police officer has been found guilty of dangerously driving a police van which hit a promising musician who was cycling in east London. | A police officer has been found guilty of dangerously driving a police van which hit a promising musician who was cycling in east London. |
| PC David Lynch's van struck Joseph Belmonte, who performs as Pepe Belmonte, in Hackney on 31 March 2011. | PC David Lynch's van struck Joseph Belmonte, who performs as Pepe Belmonte, in Hackney on 31 March 2011. |
| Mr Belmonte was left with serious spinal injuries and brain damage, Southwark Crown Court was told. | Mr Belmonte was left with serious spinal injuries and brain damage, Southwark Crown Court was told. |
| Lynch, of Hertfordshire, who drove at speeds of up to 68mph in a 30mph zone, is due to be sentenced on 8 October | Lynch, of Hertfordshire, who drove at speeds of up to 68mph in a 30mph zone, is due to be sentenced on 8 October |
| The policeman, from Hitchin, admitted careless driving but denied dangerous driving. | The policeman, from Hitchin, admitted careless driving but denied dangerous driving. |
| Judge Jeffrey Pegden said the accident had ruined the career of the music artist, who was still in constant pain. | Judge Jeffrey Pegden said the accident had ruined the career of the music artist, who was still in constant pain. |
| Mr Belmonte had major surgery to correct three breaks to his spine, and has a brain injury which leaves him "fumbling for words" and unable to remember lyrics to his own songs, the court heard. | Mr Belmonte had major surgery to correct three breaks to his spine, and has a brain injury which leaves him "fumbling for words" and unable to remember lyrics to his own songs, the court heard. |
| Prosecutor Sam Brown told the court that Mr Belmonte had to learn both how to walk again and how to play the guitar. | Prosecutor Sam Brown told the court that Mr Belmonte had to learn both how to walk again and how to play the guitar. |
| Van 'took off' | |
| A statement he read out on behalf of Mr Belmonte said: "I can't really explain the effect it has had on my life. I am very depressed at the reality that I will never be the same person again. | A statement he read out on behalf of Mr Belmonte said: "I can't really explain the effect it has had on my life. I am very depressed at the reality that I will never be the same person again. |
| "I miss my life as it was before." | "I miss my life as it was before." |
| The officer had been on his way to an incident in the Old Street area with sirens on and lights flashing at the time of the crash, jurors heard. | The officer had been on his way to an incident in the Old Street area with sirens on and lights flashing at the time of the crash, jurors heard. |
| Eyewitnesses described seeing his van "taking off" after hitting a humpback bridge, with all four of its wheels leaving the ground before it hit the cyclist. | Eyewitnesses described seeing his van "taking off" after hitting a humpback bridge, with all four of its wheels leaving the ground before it hit the cyclist. |
| Mr Belmonte was thrown on to the bonnet of the van before hitting a tree. | Mr Belmonte was thrown on to the bonnet of the van before hitting a tree. |
| Following the verdict, Mr Belmonte's lawyer Christine Tallon said of his client: "He was on the brink of making his musical breakthrough with his debut album at the time of the incident. | Following the verdict, Mr Belmonte's lawyer Christine Tallon said of his client: "He was on the brink of making his musical breakthrough with his debut album at the time of the incident. |
| "He remains a talented young musician and is fighting hard to get his career and his life back on track." | "He remains a talented young musician and is fighting hard to get his career and his life back on track." |
| A BTP spokesman said: "This dreadful incident caused serious injury and our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Belmonte, who is still recovering." | A BTP spokesman said: "This dreadful incident caused serious injury and our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Belmonte, who is still recovering." |
| Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) Commissioner Sarah Green said: "A jury has found that his driving was dangerous and fell well below the standards expected of him." | Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) Commissioner Sarah Green said: "A jury has found that his driving was dangerous and fell well below the standards expected of him." |