PC smashed up police car hitting a hare at 90mph... and he wasn’t on emergency

SPEEDING COP DISMISSED AFTER HIS BLUE-LIGHT RUSH BACK TO STATION

A SPEEDING police officer who struck a hare at more than 90mph while using his emergency lights for no reason has been sacked.

PC Ryan Lee was speeding towards Worksop using his blue lights on April 26 last year when he hit the animal, causing “significant damage” to the car, a misconduct hearing at Nottinghamshire Police’s Sherwood Lodge headquarters heard.

PC Lee had dropped a colleague off in Rainworth and was heading back to the Bassetlaw town where he was based as a response officer. He sped back through country lanes with his emergency lights on, despite having no legitimate reason to do so.

In the hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Kate Meynell, the police officer admitted his actions amounted to a gross level of misconduct. The officer, who joined the force in 2020, had been doing 80mph in a 60mph zone as he went to drop off his colleague, who was returned to Rainworth at 11pm.

Two minutes later, PC Lee activated his blue lights and reached speeds of 88mph to overtake a car on the A617. Just minutes later at 11.05pm he struck the small animal at more than 90mph. He continued for more than three miles, before stopping at a service station and reporting the damage to his supervisor.

Liz Briggs, presenting counsel for Nottinghamshire Police, said the collision had caused “significant damage” to the response car.

PC Lee pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Sheffield Magistrates Court on February 27 and is due at Sheffield Crown Court on March 26. Ms Briggs explained that while there had been financial harm to the force, the main issue was that PC Lee’s conduct could undermine public confidence.

Ms Briggs acknowledged he “has not at any time tried to hide what he has done,” but added he had “acted in a nature that was against force policy and the law.”

She added that if PC Lee had been responding to an emergency, instead of rushing back to the station, his standard of driving would have been acceptable. PC Lee’s Police Federation representative said the officer had been “very open and forthcoming” about his misconduct and explained that he was usually an exemplary employee.

“[He] consistently exceeds expectations,” Mr Skelton said, adding his “work ethic was beyond reproach”. The staff association representative, speaking on behalf of PC Lee, explained the officer had shown remorse and had “not only disappointed himself, but also knows he’s let down members of the public and his colleagues.”

Mr Skelton expressed his hope that PC Lee would not be dismissed, reasoning that “his contributions far outweigh this misstep”.

The Chief Constable dismissed PC Lee without notice and he was put on the barred list. Ms Meynell said: “Driving in the manner PC Lee drove meant he posed a serious risk to other drivers.”

The Chief Constable accepted there was “significant evidence of remorse” but decided the misconduct was “serious” She added his conduct was “in sharp contrast” to police policy.

Ms Meynell added: “The impropriety of a single officer can diminish public confidence in the police.”