A police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct after two were killed by a joyrider in a high speed chase.
HOW IT REALLY HAPPENED
PC Edward Welch, 35, was pursuing Joshua Dobby, who careered down a 20mph street at 60mph in a stolen a Ford Focus in Penge, southeast London, on 31 August 2016.
Dobby, then 23, lost control, mounted the pavement crushed to death Rozanne Cooper, 34 and her nephew Makayah McDermott, 10.
Prior to the chase and his ‘careless’ death, Makayah had appeared in an Asda advert and had just landed a leading role in a major new television series when he was killed.
He also appeared in a production of Wizard of Oz with his sisters.
A third child was also involved in the horrific crash and sustained serious injuries.
DEFENSE STATEMENT
PC Welch, of Chatham, Kent in his defense said he was trying to protect the public as he chased the joyrider.
He said he used his lights and sirens to ‘alert members of the public, pedestrians and other road users as to what was going on.’
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME
In December 2022 an Old Bailey jury cleared Welch of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one of dangerous driving.
Dobby, the estranged son of millionaire pet food wholesaler Mark Dobby, was previously convicted of two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence at the Old Bailey.
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COURT STATEMENT
The panel heard the officers failed to accurately assess the level of risk that the pursuit posed and did not report this risk back to the control room via radio.
They also failed to accurately relay the circumstances of the pursuit including the dangerous manner and speed of Mr Dobby’s driving.
PC Welch, who also failed to assess the proportionality of continuing with the pursuit, was given a final written warning.
The case was also proven against former PC Keher, but he would not have been dismissed if still serving so there was no alternative sanction the panel could impose.
