Moment policeman knocks rider and passenger off e-bike after crashing into them

Former Pc cleared aft knocking 2 men disconnected e-bike

A erstwhile police officer has been acquitted of each charges aft a assemblage ruled helium was justified successful knocking 2 men disconnected an electrical motorbike to forestall imaginable harm.

Ex-PC Tim Bradshaw, 55, was recovered not blameworthy of causing superior wounded by dangerous driving pursuing a proceedings astatine Portsmouth Crown Court. The assemblage reached their verdict successful conscionable an hour, besides clearing him of an alternate complaint of causing superior wounded by driving without owed attraction and attention.

Judge David Melville KC, addressing the assemblage aft their decision, emphasised the value of the case, not conscionable for Mr Bradshaw but for instrumentality enforcement crossed the country.

The tribunal heard that connected November 3, 2022, Mr Bradshaw — past an progressive effect serviceman — had struck the backmost instrumentality of an e-bike with his marked Ford Focus constabulary car. This caused the rider, Mason McGarry, and his passenger, Dominic Mizzi, to suffer power and clang connected Hawthorn Road successful Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

Mr McGarry, 17 astatine the time, suffered a breached tibia that required surgery. In his testimony, helium claimed Mr Bradshaw gave nary informing earlier making contact. However, Mr McGarry had an extended transgression record—more than 40 convictions, including robbery, theft, and unsafe driving.

A assemblage ruled helium was justified successful knocking 2 men disconnected an electrical motorbike (Image: PA)

His passenger, Mr Mizzi, 22, besides had aggregate anterior convictions, including assaulting exigency workers.

Bradshaw, a joined father-of-one, told the tribunal helium acted wrong his grooming and was justified successful utilizing unit to halt the pursuit. He stated that his superiors had antecedently authorised specified "tactical contact" manoeuvres.

“I was presented with a concern which, successful my view, was a cleanable accidental to marque interaction with that motorcycle and halt a pursuit earlier the hazard increased,” Mr Bradshaw explained. He noted that his constabulary car had nary damage, reinforcing his assertion that the interaction was minimal.

Mr Bradshaw besides described however e-bike riders had go a persistent situation for instrumentality enforcement successful the area. Their quality to evade seizure by weaving done alleys and pedestrian zones meant officers were often near powerless to halt them.

The tribunal besides heard that Mr Mizzi had antecedently been injured successful a abstracted e-bike accident, and different young antheral had died successful a clang adjacent conscionable a period earlier the incident.

Following the verdict, Andy Newman, lawman president of the Sussex Police Federation, work a connection connected Bradshaw’s behalf extracurricular the court: “Today, a assemblage took conscionable 20 minutes to scope a not blameworthy verdict, clearing the sanction of retired PC Tim Bradshaw.

Bradshaw (L) and Newman, lawman president of Sussex Police Federation, extracurricular Portsmouth Crown Court (Image: PA)

"This lawsuit highlights the split-second decisions that constabulary officers indispensable marque successful the enactment of work to uphold the law. Tim hopes that constabulary forces and enactment volition amusement the aforesaid bravery and assurance arsenic this assemblage did successful recognising the request to support communities.

"Police officers similar Tim are retired determination each day, ensuring nationalist safety. He extends his gratitude to his ineligible team, MGR Solicitors, Sussex Police Federation, and his household for their unwavering enactment passim this two-year ordeal.”

Despite the not-guilty verdict, Sussex Police confirmed they would reassess whether Mr Bradshaw should look disciplinary action.

A spokeswoman for the unit stated: “Our Professional Standards Department volition re-examine the lawsuit present that the transgression proceedings person concluded. The unit adheres to the College of Policing’s nationalist guidelines connected constabulary pursuits and driving standards.”

Superintendent Rachel Glenton, caput of roads policing for Surrey and Sussex Police, reaffirmed the force’s committedness to roadworthy safety: “We expect the highest driving standards from our officers and staff. It was important for this lawsuit to beryllium decided by a jury, and we are grateful to the members of the nationalist who cautiously considered each the evidence.”

Mr Bradshaw, who retired successful June 2023, has not yet commented connected his aboriginal plans.