Officer given suspended prison sentence for causing death by careless driving

PC Ian Brotherton, 32, pleaded guilty after he was charged following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the death of Brazilian national Cristopher de Carvalho Guedes in North London.

At the Old Bailey on Thursday afternoon (February 27), PC Brotherton, attached to the North Area Command Unit, was given a six month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also sentenced to 150 hours of community service and disqualified from driving for 30 months.

PC Brotherton was driving a marked police van on Southbury Road, Enfield, shortly after 3pm on October 12, 2023, as officers responded to an emergency callout, with the vehicle’s lights and sirens activated.

PC Brotherton drove towards the junction with Baird Road, where the traffic lights were on red, and accelerated as he approached the junction, travelling at 47mph, the IOPC said.

As he drove through the junction, the police van collided with the moped being ridden by Mr Guedes, aged 26, who was travelling through the Southbury Road junction from Baird Road.

Mr Guedes was thrown from his moped into metal railings and, despite wearing a helmet, suffered significant head injuries. He was treated by officers and paramedics at the scene and was transported to hospital where he died.

Commander Hayley Sewart, responsible for local policing in North London, said: “The family and friends of Cristopher de Carvalho Guedes have lost a loved one due to the careless driving of one of our officers. I know there is little I can say that will alleviate the pain they will be suffering, but I hope today’s result brings some form of closure.

“We train our officers to the highest driving standards, and when these are not met it is only right that they are held accountable.”

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “The death of Mr Guedes was an avoidable tragedy and our sympathies are with his family, who are based in Brazil, along with everyone affected by this incident.

“PC Brotherton was a trained police driver. While driving guidance permits officers to pass through red lights and travel above the speed limit where necessary in the circumstances, it is never justified if the officer’s manner of driving endangers other road users.

“PC Brotherton admitted he drove in a careless manner when he didn’t brake or slow down when he passed through the red light at the junction. By the time he saw Mr Guedes, he was travelling too fast to avoid a collision.

“Unfortunately, his actions have had fatal consequences and he has now been held accountable.”

The IOPC investigation began following a mandatory referral from the force.

The investigation was completed in April 2024 and a file of evidence sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised charges of dangerous driving causing death and careless driving causing death.

In January, PC Brotherton pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and the prosecution agreed to let the dangerous driving causing death charge lie on file.

The MPS said that now that criminal proceedings have concluded, PC Brotherton will face a misconduct hearing on March 24.