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Crash police driver found guilty | Crash police driver found guilty |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A traffic officer who crashed his police car while travelling at 115mph in "appalling weather" has been found guilty of dangerous driving. | A traffic officer who crashed his police car while travelling at 115mph in "appalling weather" has been found guilty of dangerous driving. |
Sgt Craig Bannister, 30, aqua-planed before skidding off the M4 and landing in trees on the non-emergency journey. | Sgt Craig Bannister, 30, aqua-planed before skidding off the M4 and landing in trees on the non-emergency journey. |
A jury at Cardiff Crown Court took three hours to reach a guilty verdict. | A jury at Cardiff Crown Court took three hours to reach a guilty verdict. |
Mr Recorder Peter Murphy said Bannister of Briton Ferry, near Swansea, would be sentenced next month as first he wanted to know how it would affect his career. | |
He has already been withdrawn from operational duties and had his driving permit taken off him. | He has already been withdrawn from operational duties and had his driving permit taken off him. |
Following the verdict The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it would consider South Wales Police misconduct recommendations for Bannister. | |
During the trial prosecutor Michael Hammett had told the court: "Conditions were appalling. There was heavy rain, lots of spray and standing water on the carriageway. | |
Following the guilty verdict in court today, and after sentencing, I will then consider the force's recommendation for any misconduct action Tom Davies, IPCC Commissioner for Wales | |
"Bannister's car showed he'd been travelling at 122mph before slowing to 115mph when he hit the water and began aqua-planing. | "Bannister's car showed he'd been travelling at 122mph before slowing to 115mph when he hit the water and began aqua-planing. |
"He left the road and mounted the grass verge demolishing fencing. | "He left the road and mounted the grass verge demolishing fencing. |
"The car then skidded another 200 yards before coming to rest in a crop of trees facing the wrong way. | "The car then skidded another 200 yards before coming to rest in a crop of trees facing the wrong way. |
"It's important to note that he was not answering an emergency response call at the time." | "It's important to note that he was not answering an emergency response call at the time." |
The court heard a police investigation showed the car had no mechanical defects and the crash was caused by driver error. | The court heard a police investigation showed the car had no mechanical defects and the crash was caused by driver error. |
Mr Hammett said: "When Bannister was interviewed he refused to accept that driving at those speeds in those conditions was dangerous. | Mr Hammett said: "When Bannister was interviewed he refused to accept that driving at those speeds in those conditions was dangerous. |
"There were signs on the road warning of standing water and many drivers were travelling well below the 70mph limit. | "There were signs on the road warning of standing water and many drivers were travelling well below the 70mph limit. |
"He couldn't offer an explanation as to why he was travelling that fast." | "He couldn't offer an explanation as to why he was travelling that fast." |
Diligent investigation | |
The court heard Bannister had received an emergency call minutes earlier but he had been "stood down" before his car joined the M4 at Junction 46 near Neath. | The court heard Bannister had received an emergency call minutes earlier but he had been "stood down" before his car joined the M4 at Junction 46 near Neath. |
The jury was told Bannister was a grade two qualified police driver, and had been trained to the second highest level of traffic officers. | The jury was told Bannister was a grade two qualified police driver, and had been trained to the second highest level of traffic officers. |
Bannister had denied dangerous driving. | Bannister had denied dangerous driving. |
IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies said: "Police officers are given special dispensation in certain circumstances to drive faster then the speed limit allows. | |
"That power carries a responsibility not to abuse it. | |
"South Wales Police voluntarily referred Sgt Bannister's crash on the M4 to the IPCC. | |
"They have carried out a diligent investigation under my management and found no policing reason why this officer was driving so far above the speed limit. | |
"Following the guilty verdict in court today, and after sentencing, I will then consider the force's recommendation for any misconduct action." |
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