Jail for 100mph policeman who killed mother on birthday card joyride

Victim: Sandy Simpson was walking with her husband when she was hit
12 April 2012

A policeman was jailed for six and a half years today for killing a woman in his patrol car during a jaunt to deliver a birthday card in which he hit speeds of 100mph.

Pc Malcolm Searles, 24, smashed into 61-year-old Sandy Simpson as she walked with her husband Peter in Bromley. He had been showing off after being given permission to deliver the 18th birthday card to his sister in August last year.

He was on his way back to the station when he hit Mrs Simpson while travelling at 56mph in a road which has a limit of 30mph.

The mother-of-three died of head and chest injuries, despite the efforts of paramedics in an ambulance and the emergency helicopter. Searles admitted causing death by dangerous driving — which carries a 14-year maximum sentence — and also three counts of speeding and one charge of dangerous driving at Southwark crown court. Searles, of Swanley, had only recently qualified as a "standard emergency response driver".

The charges followed a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Receptionist Mrs Simpson left a daughter Natasha, 32, and sons Darren, 28, Elliot, 22, and grandsons Jacob and Sonny, as well as her husband of 43 years.


Searles was delivering birthday card when he hit Mrs Simpson

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, spoke of witnessing the scene of the collision in the immediate aftermath.

"There were so many police everywhere. It was chaos. The paramedics must have tried for 20 minutes to resuscitate her.

"Her husband was walking around like he was in a daze. He would go away and then come back again and sometimes he was shouting at the police.

"I saw them bring out a red blanket and wrap her up. He lay over her holding her and kissing her. I felt so sorry for the family."

A note written by Natasha attached to sunflowers left at the scene read: "Dear mum, we were your sunflowers. Through your love, strength and support you made us grow. We will love you for ever."

Scotland Yard has apologised to the Simpson family and said that Searles was "a single maverick officer" whose actions were not representative of the Met. Searles lost his job after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.

The incident was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission which said: "This officer's behaviour ... was irresponsible in the extreme. His actions showed blatant disregard for the safety of the public and tragically his recklessness has cost an innocent bystander her life."

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