Careless driver fined for red light police crash

Image caption, Callum Peirse was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court

A driver who crashed into a police car after going through a red light at speed has been fined 拢180.

Callum Peirse, who had a history of driving offences, smashed into a car carrying two officers in Ashington in July last year, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The officers said they were left in "crippling pain" and unable to work for weeks afterwards.

Peirse, 25 and of Waterfield Road in Blyth, was initially charged with dangerous driving but admitted a lesser offence of careless driving, which prosecutors accepted.

The officers were approaching a crossroad along Sixth Avenue on 15 July 2023 when the traffic light ahead of them turned green, prosecutor Christopher Bevan said.

As they crossed the junction, Peirse came from their right at "significant speed" having gone through a red signal and collided with the side of the police vehicle, Mr Bevan said.

In statements read to the court, one officer said she was "housebound" for three weeks because of her injuries, while the other said they were in "crippling pain" for weeks afterwards.

As well as the fine, Peirse also had nine penalty points put on his licence.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work after failing to comply with a previous court order.

Mr Bevan said that order was given after Peirse drove away from police in June 2021, reaching speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone, ignoring red lights and travelling on the wrong side of the road round roundabouts to make his escape.

He had only completed 41 of the 150 hours unpaid work imposed upon him for that offence, and missed several probation service meetings, Mr Bevan said.

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