Force fines crash detective
Police chiefs have fined a Mid Wales detective involved in a death crash the maximum amount allowed under police rules, following a disciplinary hearing. Police chiefs have fined a Mid Wales detective involved in a death crash the maximum amount allowed under police rules, following a disciplinary hearing. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Detective Constable Ashley Brice, of Dyfed-Powys Police, was fined 13 days pay - £1,077. Brice, an advanced police driver, of Kerry, Newtown, was convicted of driving without due care and attention at Caernarfon Crown Court last August for his part in the smash which killed Gareth James, 43, of Llandegley, Llandrindod Wells. Brice, 33, was banned from driving for a year and fined £2,000. He was cleared of causing death through dangerous driving. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Brice, an advanced police driver, of Kerry, Newtown, was convicted of driving without due care and attention at Caernarfon Crown Court last August for his part in the smash which killed Gareth James, 43.
Brice, 33, was banned from driving for a year and fined £2,000. He was cleared of causing death through dangerous driving.
It was the second trial for Brice. In May a jury had failed to reach a verdict.
Mr James, of Llandegley, Llandrindod Wells, died when his Vauxhall Astra was hit by an unmarked Ford Mondeo police car, driven by Brice, on the A483 between Newtown and Llandrindod Wells, near Dolfor.
The court heard Brice overtook a lorry on the road, which has a 60mph limit, lost control and hit a hedge before careering into the path of Mr James's car.
Brice told police he did not know at what speed he had been travelling, but thought a mechanical failure was to blame for the accident.
An IPCC spokesman said the Dyfed-Powys Police conduct hearing had considered the outcome of the court case and Brice's service history in determining the fine.
He said that Brice will have to retake his driving test and then undergo driver retraining by Dyfed-Powys Police.
A police spokesman apologised to Mr James's family "for the loss of his life as a result of the actions of a serving officer" and said the officer also apologised.
