PC who fatally struck man with police van sentenced

A police officer who killed a retired newspaper photographer when he drove a van through a red light has been sentenced.

Trevor Bartlett, 80, died after being struck by the van at a pedestrian crossing on the A52 Derby Road in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on 19 December 2023.

Steven Allcock, 34, a Nottinghamshire Police constable, was charged with causing death by careless driving after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Allcock, of Toton, Nottinghamshire, was given a 12-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work and a two-year driving ban at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Thursday after admitting the charge in January.

The court heard the police van Allcock was driving had a prisoner "kicking off" in the back and was travelling between 25mph (40km/h) and 28mph (45km/h) when the "distracted" officer struck Bartlett just after 18:30 GMT.

The hearing was told the arrested man was "banging his head" on the cage walls in the back of the police van, which put Allcock in an "extremely stressful situation" while he was driving.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Reid said the van was travelling in a bus lane with blue lights and sirens, and the former Nottingham Post photographer had been on the crossing for about seven seconds, while the traffic light was red, when he was hit.

The prosecution said Allcock was 420m (1,733ft) away when it turned from green to amber.

He was a trained response driver, meaning he can legally exceed the speed limit and drive through red lights in some circumstances, the court heard.

The IOPC previously said the constable should have "reasonably foreseen" the risk of harm to members of the public when approaching a red traffic light and amended his driving style.

The court heard Allcock did "not comply with his training when approaching hazards" and approached the junction where he "could not stop appropriately".

An investigation also found the "stresses" of the detainee's behaviour in the back of the van would have had a "considerable impact on his driving and perceptions".

Luke Ponte, representing Allcock, said: "He is devastated that he caused the death of Mr Bartlett. All of his adult life has been given to public service to help people.

"He has expressed through me his great sorrow and pain he has caused by his actions."

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said the situation was a "tragedy" and said Bartlett had led a "fulfilled life" with his family and in his profession.

He added Allcock was "genuinely remorseful" for what he had done and had an "unblemished record".

"A tragedy all the more because the bare facts are an 80-year-old gentleman has simply been out for pint at his local pub, on his way home and quite rightly crossing at a pelican crossing and is involved in a collision which was no fault of his own," the district judge said.

"An absolute tragedy for all concerned - loss of a life which was needless.

"I am sure [Allcock] lives with this on a daily basis and looks in the mirror each morning wishing he could rewind the clock."

Bartlett's family were in court for the sentencing hearing but asked the judge not to read out their victim impact statement.

The IOPC said its investigation had also found Allcock had a case to answer for gross misconduct in relation to his driving and this would now be progressed with Nottinghamshire Police.

Director Emily Barry said: "By failing to consider potential hazards, treating the red traffic light as a give way and not reducing the van's speed to that of a crawl, PC Allcock placed members of the public at risk without justification - and in this case with dreadful consequences."

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Bartlett's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We cannot imagine the pain this tragic incident continues to cause them.

"The investigation has been led by the IOPC and following the conclusion of the court case, the officer will now be subject to internal disciplinary proceedings.

"Unfortunately, we therefore cannot comment at this stage until these proceedings take place."

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