Officer pleads guilty to causing death by careless driving

A serving police officer has admitted at a court hearing to causing the death of a moped rider due to careless driving.

PC Ian Brotherton, attached to the North Area Command Unit, was driving a marked police van responding to an emergency call when he collided with a moped being ridden by 26-year-old Cristopher de Carvalho Guedes in Enfield on 12 October 2023.

At a hearing held at the Old Bailey on Friday, 3 January, PC Brotheron pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. He will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday, 27 February.

PC Brotherton was disqualified from driving on an interim basis.

This followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, responsible for policing in Enfield and Haringey, said: “My thoughts and sympathy remain with the family and friends of Cristopher de Carvalho Guedes at this enormously difficult time. They have lost a loved one due to the careless driving of one of our officers and, while the judicial process has now concluded and PC Brotherton has admitted his guilt, I know there is little I can say that will alleviate the pain they will be suffering.

“Police drivers are trained to the highest standards and while they have certain exemptions when driving police vehicles on public roads, they know they are accountable should their actions fall below these standards.

“In this case, an independent investigation conducted by the IOPC, which we fully supported, has gathered all the evidence from that day and PC Brotherton has admitted to causing Mr Guedes’ death due to his careless driving.

“While he has shown remorse for his actions, it is right that he has been held to account for his actions.”

The incident happened at around 15:00hrs on 12 October 2023 as PC Brotherton was responding to an emergency call. He was driving a van using blue lights and sirens when the collision occurred at the junction of Southbury Road with Baird Road.

The van stopped at the scene and officers provided first aid before Mr Guedes was taken to hospital for treatment, where he sadly died.

A referral was made to the IOPC and PC Brotherton was placed on restricted duties while an independent investigation into the incident was carried out.

Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, PC Brotherton will face a misconduct hearing.