Met Police Officer blamed for causing death of moped rider during pursuit

A court hearing has heard how a Met Police Officer ‘caused the death’ of a moped rider during a chase in London in 2016.

PC Paul Summerson was pursuing a moped that was carrying a rider and pillion, both of whom were suspected of being involved in a smash and grab mobile phone robberies in the area. The rider, Lewis Johnson and his passenger Louis Kyriacou led PC Summerson on a chase that spanned Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill, and Clapton Common.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Sandiford QC, explained to the court that PC Summerson was driving his BMW pursuit car with blue lights and sirens running. He also told the court how he had weaved in and out of traffic during the pursuit, at times driving along the wrong side of the road.

It was Clapton Common Road where the chase was halted, after a van moved out of PC Summerson’s path, blocking the path of the moped and its two riders. The rider of the moped was pronounced dead at the scene, Louis Kyriacou was seriously injured.

Mr Sandiford said it was "highly dangerous to race around the streets of Stoke Newington in pursuit on a busy weekday morning.

"There a large number of businesses, shops and cafes and so on and you can see that streets are busy with pedestrians.”

He concluded by claiming the crash was “entirely foreseeable”.

PC Summerson denies causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The CPS had originally decided not to charge PC Summerson with any offences arising from the incident. Repeat appeals by the family of the killed rider's mother though saw the case brought before the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The case continues.

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