PC John Dougal tells court ‘I think about Hayley every day’

Apr 8 2009 by Rob Kennedy, The Journal

THE policeman accused of killing Hayley Adamson said yesterday he thought about her every day.

PC John Dougal also told Newcastle Crown Court he had been devastated by the death of the 16-year-old.

But he maintained his driving had been safe and proportionate as he chased a car which, it turned out, was not even fleeing from him.

Hayley died after stepping into the path of Dougal’s Volvo traffic police car on Denton Road, Newcastle, last May.

Dougal told jurors yesterday: “I feel devastated about it, but I think my driving was safe.

“I think about Hayley every day and I can’t think what her family feel.

“I don’t feel I compromised the safety of myself and others. It was safe and controlled.” Dougal, 41, had been responding to an alert on his onboard number plate recognition computer as he passed a Renault Megane.

He said by the time he turned round to follow it he could not see the car and so put his foot down believing the driver was trying to get away from him.

The powerful police car reached speeds of up to 94mph as he closed in on the Renault, not realising Hayley was about to step into his path.

He said: “I remember Hayley stepping out and running, I think it was all in one movement.

“I tried to steer away but realised she was running on a diagonal so I tried to steer the other way.

“She seemed to be coming towards me, it all happened so quickly and I was unable to avoid the collision.” It later transpired the alert on the Renault had been out of date and was being driven by an innocent Czech man.

But Dougal said he thought it was trying to get away and he had deliberately not sounded his siren or activated his blue lights so as not to alert the Renault driver that he was after him.

He told the Crown Court: “If I had felt it was necessary to put them on, I would have.

“I don’t think I made a mistake. I felt it was safe and every individual circumstance needs to be assessed.

“There was nobody around that I could see.”

When asked if he would drive in that way again, Dougal replied: “It would have to be in a police vehicle and I don’t think I could do that. I don’t think I will drive a police vehicle again.”

Dougal denies causing death by dangerous driving. The trial continues.