Thomas Lockley, 39, left the scene without providing his details (Picture: BNPS)
A police officer who caused a crash while off-duty and ‘insisted’ 999 didn’t need to be called has been convicted of driving offences.
Thomas Lockley, 39, was driving his two-year-old son on a country lane near Cranbourne, Dorset, when he took his eyes off the road to adjust the boy’s blanket after it fell down.
His BMW drifted into the opposite lane and crashed head-on into a Kia driven by Keith Lanham, causing major damage to both cars.
After a witness said ‘we should call the police’, Lockley said ‘no don’t call 999, I just veered off and hit the car’, a court heard.
Lockley told Mr Lanham he was a police officer and was ‘very insistent’ he could deal with the matter himself.
Gareth Huston, prosecuting, said: ‘[Mr Lanham] asked him to identify himself and the defendant said he hadn’t got his ID with him. He asked where he was based and he said Bournemouth station. The defendant then walked away.’
Lockley then called his father-in-law to collect his son and left the scene with them without giving his details.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to driving without due care and failing to stop after an accident.
The court heard there was no need for 999 to be called, but magistrates told Lockley he should have known the Road Traffic Act states drivers involved in a crash which causes injury or damage must stop and provide their details.
Lockley claimed he made a ‘split-second decision’ to leave the scene after Mr Lanham became ‘hostile’.
Miranda Zeffman, defending, said: ‘He did tell the other driver he is a police officer, to reassure him.
‘As a police officer he knows when there has been a crash where no one is injured and the road is not obstructed it is not best practice for the police to be called.
‘There was no need to panic. Because of his job he knew what needed to happen. After he informed him he was a police officer, the conversation became quite hostile and he retreated to his car.
‘When his father-in-law arrived to pick up his son, he made the split second decision to leave with him, instead of remaining at the scene.
‘It was a heat of the moment decision, one he deeply regrets. This was clearly a case of crossed wires, as opposed to a concerted effort to evade.’
The defendant had been suffering from clinically-diagnosed depression and anxiety and had spent time off work or on reduced hours.
He was ordered to pay £721 in fines and costs and seven points were added to his driving licence.
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