Dunston crash police officer jailed for woman's death

A police officer who crashed and killed a woman while responding to an emergency call to help a choking baby has been jailed for two years and three months. Mark Roberts, 57, drove through a red light at speed and struck Ronald and Muriel Pinkney's motorbike near the Metrocentre in Gateshead in July 2022, Teesside Crown Court heard. The 74-year-old died days later in hospital, with her family telling the court her death had been devastating but they did not want Roberts jailed. Roberts, from Darlington, had admitted careless driving for what he called a "tragic accident" but was found guilty of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. He was at Whickham Police Station on 8 July 2022 when, shortly before 15:00 BST, he was dispatched to a grade one emergency call for a five-week-old baby struggling to breathe in Dunston, judge Francis Laird KC said. As he crossed a bridge over the the A1, he went through a red light at an average speed of 43mph and struck the motorbike, which had just left the dual carriageway and was turning in front of him, the court heard. He braked hard but was travelling at between 25 and 27mph when he hit the bike, the court heard. The trial had h