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By ANDY DOLAN Published: 11:33 BST, 10 April 2025 | Updated: 11:33 BST, 10 April 2025
A former Detective Chief Inspector appeared in court today charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Former Derbyshire Constabularly officer Michael Cooper, 54, was charged following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).The charges relate to a fatal road traffic collision at Etwall, Derbyshire, on September 28 2021 involving an unmarked Peugeot 208 police car. Following the collision, an inquest heard told that educational psychologist James Bane, 50, died from fatal injuries sustained to his pelvis when struck by an unmarked police car. Opening the inquest into his death in October 2021, Derbyshire Area Coroner Peter Nieto told Derby Coroner’s Court: ‘The incident involved an unmarked police vehicle which was being driven by an on-duty Derbyshire police officer along Egginton Road. Floral tributes were left at the scene following the September 2021 collision’It collided with an unattended stationary car, and then continued travelling and then collided with Mr Bane, trapping him between the police vehicle and his own vehicle, sadly causing what proved to be fatal injuries.’The IOPC said a second victim, a woman in her 30s, suffered serious injuries in the collision. Today District Judge Sunil Khanna granted a prosecution application to prevent publication of that woman’s name and address because she had been left ‘deeply traumatised’ with psychological injuries. Cooper, from Etwall, Derbyshire, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court. The former police officer sat in the well of the court and was not required to state his address. The former officer appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court this morningThe former officer who was wearing a dark grey suit and white shirt at the ten-minute hearing. He was released on unconditional bail as the case was adjourned for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Nottingham Crown Court next month.The IOPC said it began its investigation after receiving a mandatory referral from Derbyshire Constabulary. Once the investigation was complete, the watchdog sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges.
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Ex-detective, 54, appears in court over fatal crash that killed pedestrian and injured another
