A British police officer has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday (9) by a local UK court for causing death of Indian origin when the police officer’s car hit into the van of the deceased as a result of dangerous driving.
Wednesfield shopkeeper Balvinder Singh (59) was driving his van when he was hit head on by car driven by off duty Staffordshire Police officer Jason Bannister on Cannock road, Wolverhampton.
The victim was rushed into hospital soon after the incident however he died due to severe injuries in December 2016, on the same day when the accident took place.
The accused, who had pleaded guilty for causing death by unsafe driving in a court hearing in September, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Birmingham Crown Court.
According to British media reports, the 45 year old police officer was himself treated for minor injuries on his body after the accident. After an investigation by West Midlands Police in the early 2018, he was charged with causing death by unsafe driving .
In addition to the jail term, Bannister has also been barred from driving for 45 months and will be required to complete an extended driving test in order to get licence again. The police officer has also remains suspended from his duty in the police department.
Staffordshire police said that as the court case concluded, the police department would launch a misconduct proceedings against Bannister.
Shortly after his death, Singh’s family paid tribute to their loved one, they said, “he was the most loyal and hard-working family man, with three children and six grandchildren who were his everything one of which he never got to meet. He was loved throughout the community."
Some panic-stricken commuters reportedly considered jumping off the trains, but were eventually rescued safely (PTI photo)
