Met Police Officer Faces Sentencing in Fatal Collision with Moped Rider

A split-second decision at a red light leaves a family heartbroken and a police officer facing the consequences

A Metropolitan Police officer is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving in a tragic incident that claimed the life of 26-year-old Christopher De Carvalho Guedes. The collision occurred on October 12, 2023, on Southbury Road in Enfield, when PC Ian Brotherton, 32, drove a marked police van, with its blue lights flashing and sirens activated, through a red light at 47 mph while responding to an emergency call.

The court heard that the light for Mr Guedes, who was riding a moped, had been green when the fatal collision took place. Prosecutor Rachel Taylor explained that the red traffic light was visible to PC Brotherton for several seconds, yet he entered the junction without braking.

Appearing at the Old Bailey, PC Brotherton pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving—a charge the prosecution deemed acceptable. He had initially been charged with the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

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Mr Guedes, originally from Brazil, had been in London for just over a month before the collision. His sister, Thaísa Carvalho Guedes, spoke about the devastating loss on Brazilian television, highlighting the tragedy's international resonance.

Charmaine Arbouin, regional director for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), offered condolences to Mr Guedes' loved ones, saying:

"This is a tragic incident where a young man has lost his life, and our thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Guedes' family and friends both here and in Brazil."

Judge Nigel Lickley KC clarified that all sentencing options, including immediate custody, remain open. While granting PC Brotherton unconditional bail ahead of his sentencing on February 27, 2025, he emphasised:

"Just because you have been granted unconditional bail does not indicate any particular sentencing option."

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This case underscores the challenging balance emergency responders must strike between the urgency of their duties and the imperative to safeguard public safety. Blue light drivers are instructed to treat red lights as 'give way,' a guideline intended to facilitate rapid response without compromising caution.

Robert Morris, representing PC Brotherton, characterised the collision as a deeply regrettable accident, emphasising that the officer's actions stemmed from a genuine emergency response. Even so, the tragic decision to proceed through the red light had devastating consequences.

The sentencing will be closely watched, not because many expect a harsh punishment but because few believe a custodial sentence would be appropriate. This is a case of a tragic accident, not intentional wrongdoing, and comes at a time when individuals convicted of far more egregious offences—such as assaulting emergency workers—are often handed suspended sentences.

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Opinion: Should PC Ian Brotherton Receive a Custodial Sentence?

The forthcoming sentencing of PC Ian Brotherton raises a contentious question: should this police officer face a custodial sentence? Public opinion may be divided, with some advocating for harsh consequences to reflect the severity of the tragedy and others urging leniency given the exceptional circumstances.

PC Brotherton was responding to a genuine emergency when the collision occurred. While we cannot know his exact mindset at the time, his actions occurred within the context of his role as an emergency responder.

This incident highlights the immense pressures police officers face when responding to emergency calls, often requiring them to make split-second decisions under intense stress. Crucially, no details have been released about the nature of the call PC Brotherton was responding to, making it difficult to fully contextualize his actions.

Was he racing to provide urgent assistance to colleagues under attack? Responding to a burglary in progress or a suspect on the run? Or was it a less immediate situation, such as a violent shoplifter detained by security? While these unknowns do not absolve the officer of responsibility, they do underscore the unique challenges emergency service workers face compared to the average motorist, where urgency and accountability are constantly in tension.