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pa.press.net, Updated: 31/05/2011 23:36
Pc fined for crashing suspect's car
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A police officer has been fined after he crashed a drink-drive suspect's car into a garden last September
A police officer has been fined after he crashed a drink-drive suspect's high-performance car into a garden.
Pc Mark Colebrook, 30, was asked to move the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution so it could be towed away but instead lost control of the vehicle, which careered into the gardens of two houses in Hale, Cheshire.
Pc Colebrook and another Greater Manchester Police officer, Pc Stuart Foy, sustained minor injuries in the accident at the junction of Hale Road and Rydal Drive in the early hours of September 3 last year.
Both were charged with aggravated vehicle taking and the case was due to be committed to Crown Court last week.
However, it is understood magistrates in Rochdale heard the pair were given permission by a superior to move the car to a safe place.
The charges were dropped as Colebrook, of Widnes, pleaded guilty to careless driving, while no evidence was offered on the matter against Foy. Colebrook was fined £135, given four penalty points and ordered to pay £200 court costs.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The two officers concerned remain on restricted duties pending the outcome of an assessment by the GMP Professional Standards Branch that will determine whether or not they face internal disciplinary action."
A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said: "After receiving a full file of evidence the case was further reviewed by a CPS prosecutor who concluded there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking against either officer.
"The lawyer decided that while it was clear the two officers did not have permission from the owner to drive the car, they did have permission from their senior officer at the scene to move the vehicle in order for it to be collected by a recovery vehicle.
"The lawyer, after looking at all the evidence, was satisfied that the officers had not exceeded the permission given to them."
Pc fined for crashing suspect's car
@import url("http://estc.msn.com/br/csl/css/23AA27A79E3687063673C2CD56F30E46/twtutility.css");
A police officer has been fined after he crashed a drink-drive suspect's car into a garden last September
A police officer has been fined after he crashed a drink-drive suspect's high-performance car into a garden.
Pc Mark Colebrook, 30, was asked to move the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution so it could be towed away but instead lost control of the vehicle, which careered into the gardens of two houses in Hale, Cheshire.
Pc Colebrook and another Greater Manchester Police officer, Pc Stuart Foy, sustained minor injuries in the accident at the junction of Hale Road and Rydal Drive in the early hours of September 3 last year.
Both were charged with aggravated vehicle taking and the case was due to be committed to Crown Court last week.
However, it is understood magistrates in Rochdale heard the pair were given permission by a superior to move the car to a safe place.
The charges were dropped as Colebrook, of Widnes, pleaded guilty to careless driving, while no evidence was offered on the matter against Foy. Colebrook was fined £135, given four penalty points and ordered to pay £200 court costs.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The two officers concerned remain on restricted duties pending the outcome of an assessment by the GMP Professional Standards Branch that will determine whether or not they face internal disciplinary action."
A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said: "After receiving a full file of evidence the case was further reviewed by a CPS prosecutor who concluded there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking against either officer.
"The lawyer decided that while it was clear the two officers did not have permission from the owner to drive the car, they did have permission from their senior officer at the scene to move the vehicle in order for it to be collected by a recovery vehicle.
"The lawyer, after looking at all the evidence, was satisfied that the officers had not exceeded the permission given to them."
