Former-Pc Tim Bradshaw, 55, was found not guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, after a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court. The jury took one hour to reach the verdict, and to clear him of an alternative charge of causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention, in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, on November 3 You will realise that was an important case, not only for this defendant but throughout the country.
The court heard that the response officer touched the back wheel of the e-bike with his Ford Focus marked police car, causing the rider, Mason McGarry, and pillion passenger Dominic Mizzi, to lose control and fall to the ground. Mr McGarry, who was 17 at the time, suffered a broken tibia and required surgery, and told the court that Bradshaw had not given any warning. The court heard that Mr McGarry had more than 40 convictions, including for robbery, theft and dangerous driving.
Mr Mizzi, 22, also told the court that he had numerous convictions, including for assaulting emergency workers. Mr Bradshaw described in court how police were involved in regular pursuits with electric motorbikes in the seaside town, but were normally unable to stop the riders because of the speed of the vehicles and their ability to go down alleyways and closed roads.
The court also heard that Mr Mizzi had been injured in a previous e-bike accident, and another young man had been killed in a crash nearby in the previous month. A Sussex Police spokeswoman said that the force would re-examine whether Mr Bradshaw would face disciplinary proceedings. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues.
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