Cop flipped car in 'freak accident', court hears

Crawley Magistrates heard how PC Anthony Crayford, 47, was on a late night shift when he clipped the wheel of a parked car - causing the patrol car to flip and land on its roof.

He told the court that the crash was simply a 'momentary lapse of attention' in a 'freak accident' at 4.30am on February 20 in Priory Street, Lewes.

The court heard how the angle of the wheel sticking out from the parked car caused the patrol car to flip - even though PC Crayford was not speeding.

Neither he nor passenger PC Russell Dean were injured despite the car landing on its roof in the middle of the quiet residential street.

Crayford's supervisors wrote letters to the court attesting to his 'some 20 years of exemplary service' as a police officer.

Adam James, defending, said: 'This is just an embarrassing accident. Had it not been for the unusual circumstances the damage would have been reasonably less.'

He added: 'It was just a freak accident.'

Passing sentence, magistrates' chairman Peter Smith said: 'We have listened to the facts in this rather unusual and quite rare accident and we are of the view that it was just a momentary lapse of attention.'

Crayford was given a 12-month conditional discharge, four points on his licence, and ordered to pay 60 court costs.