A retired police officer has been cleared by a jury for knocking two people off an electric motorbike in order to “protect life”.
Tim Bradshaw, a former PC, told Portsmouth Crown Court it was Dominic Mizzi’s “own stupid fault” he had been involved in the incident.
Mr Mizzi, 22, was a passenger on the e-bike which was being ridden by Mason McGarry, who was 17 at the time.
Mr Bradshaw, 55, was found not guilty on Friday of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a trial.
The court heard the response officer touched the back wheel of the e-bike with his Ford Focus marked police car, causing Mr McGarry and Mr Mizzi to lose control and fall to the ground.
Mr Bradshaw said the use of a “tactical contact” manoeuvre had been authorised previously by his superiors, and he was permitted to use “reasonable force”.
The jury took one hour to reach the verdict, and to clear him of an alternative charge of causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention, in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, on 3 November 2022.
Judge David Melville KC told the jurors: “Thank you very much indeed. You will realise that was an important case, not only for this defendant but throughout the country.”
The court heard that Mr McGarry had more than 40 convictions, including for robbery, theft and dangerous driving.
He suffered a broken tibia and required surgery following the e-bike incident, and told the court he was given no warning about the manoeuvre.
The court heard Mr Mizzi had numerous convictions, including for assaulting emergency workers.
Mr Bradshaw, who retired in June last year, said: “I was presented with a situation which in my view was a perfect opportunity to make contact with that bike and stop a pursuit and the increased risk.”
He said that he had “nudged” the electric bike with the bumper of his vehicle and added: “It was light contact, it was light enough, there was not a blemish on my police car.”
He added: “I believed it was a justified, necessary action.”
Mr Bradshaw described in court how police were involved in regular pursuits with electric motorbikes in the seaside town, but they were normally unable to stop the riders because of the speed of the vehicles and their ability to go down alleyways and closed roads.
The court also heard that Mr Mizzi had been injured in a previous e-bike accident, and another young man had been killed in a crash nearby in the previous month.
After the verdict, Andy Newman, deputy chairman of Sussex Police Federation, read a statement outside court on behalf of Mr Bradshaw.
He said: “This case demonstrates that police officers only have seconds to make decisions in order to uphold the law.
“Tim hopes that going forward police organisations will show the bravery and confidence that this jury has shown in supporting and protecting communities.
“Police officers like Tim are out protecting communities 365 days a year making sure that you are safe.”
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Superintendent Rachel Glenton, head of roads policing for Surrey and Sussex police forces, said: “We expect the highest driving standards from our officers and staff, and road safety and reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads is a priority for the force.
“It was important that this case was decided by a jury, and we are grateful to those members of the public who carefully considered all of the evidence presented before the court.”
