Former Derbyshire DCI jailed over fatal dangerous driving
A former Derbyshire Constabulary detective chief inspector has been jailed for causing the death of a pedestrian and seriously injuring another after admitting dangerous driving offences.
Michael Cooper, 55, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to three years and seven months’ imprisonment for causing the death by dangerous driving of James Bane, 50, and a concurrent two-year sentence for causing serious injury by dangerous driving to a woman. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.
The offences stem from a collision in Etwall, Derbyshire, on September 28, 2021, when Cooper, who was driving an unmarked police Peugeot, mounted the pavement after striking a parked vehicle. The car hit a woman before returning to the road and striking Mr Bane, who died at the scene.
Cooper changed his plea to guilty earlier this month after initially denying the charges. He claimed he had suffered a blackout before the collision but accepted it was dangerous for him to drive given his history of previous blackouts.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found Cooper had failed to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of his condition despite repeated medical advice to do so.
The IOPC also found he had been using the police vehicle for personal journeys, including trips to a leisure centre and fast-food restaurant, carrying non-police passengers and using police-funded fuel. He resigned before an accelerated misconduct hearing in August 2024, which concluded he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he remained a serving officer. He has since been placed on the police barred list.
IOPC director of engagement Emily Barry said: “Our sympathies remain with the family of Mr Bane and all those affected by his death. We also acknowledge the very serious injuries caused to the woman and the impact on her and her family.
“There is evidence to suggest ex-DCI Cooper made a conscious decision to drive, despite his condition, and also failed to inform the DVLA of his previous blackouts despite written advice to do so on more than one occasion. He has now been held accountable for his actions and received a jail sentence.”