Disciplinary threat for officers in dangerous driving case

Sergeants Andrew Watson and Shelton Newsham were convicted this week of one charge each of dangerous driving and one charge of reversing down a motorway.

They were among several motorists caught reversing on the hard shoulder and nearside lane of a slip road on the M606 at Chain Bar, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, to avoid hold-ups caused by a crash in June 2008.

Watson, 40, of Linthwaite, and Newsham, 35, of Ainley Top, both in Huddersfield, were in their own cars on their way to work in Bradford.

They claimed they had reversed down the sliproad to assist another officer who was dealing with motorists who had also reversed.

But the prosecution said both officers failed to dial 999 and did not produce their identification cards.

Both officers denied the charges but were found guilty following a one-day trial at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the force would be investigating the matter and then taking action. He said: "Two of West Yorkshire's Police officers have been found guilty of dangerous driving.

"West Yorkshire Police will now be investigating the circumstances that led to these charges and will take any necessary disciplinary action."

The men will be sentenced on January 20.

Three other drivers, including a prison officer, have already been fined and banned from driving after being convicted of charges relating to the same incident.