A retired police officer has been cleared of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a crash involving an e-bike left two people hurt.
Former PC Tim Bradshaw, who was on duty at the time, was accused of driving a marked police car at the e-bike being ridden by Mason McGarry and Dominic Mizzi in Bognor Regis in November 2022.
Mr Bradshaw, 55, of Bersted, was found not guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court after a trial, during which he said he had acted to protect life.
Mr McGarry, now 19, sustained a fractured left tibia in the crash, which required surgery.
‘Tactical contact’
The jury took one hour to reach the verdict, and also cleared him of an alternative charge of causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention.
The court heard that the response officer touched the back wheel of the e-bike, causing the rider, Mr McGarry, and his passenger to lose control and fall to the ground.
The court heard that Mr McGarry had more than 40 convictions, including for dangerous driving.
Mr Mizzi, 22, also told the court that he had numerous convictions, including for assaulting emergency workers.
Mr Bradshaw, a married father-of-one, told the court that it was Mr Mizzi’s “own stupid fault” that he had been involved in the incident.
He also said that the use of a “tactical contact” manoeuvre had been authorised previously by his superiors, and he was permitted to use “reasonable force”.
Mr Bradshaw, who retired in June last year, said: “I was presented with a situation which in my view was a perfect opportunity to make contact with that bike and stop a pursuit and the increased risk.”
He said that he had “nudged” the electric bike with the bumper of his vehicle.
He added: “It was light contact, it was light enough, there was not a blemish on my police car.”
He added: “I believed it was a justified, necessary action.”
Mr Bradshaw described in court how police were involved in regular pursuits with electric motorbikes, but were normally unable to stop the riders because of the speed of the vehicles and their ability to go down alleyways and closed roads.
The court also heard that Mr Mizzi had been injured in a previous e-bike accident, and another young man had been killed in a crash nearby in the previous month.
Additional reporting by PA Media.
