A speeding police officer who caused "catastrophic" injuries to a singer-songwriter while responding to an emergency call in his van has been given a suspended eight-month jail sentence.
David Lynch, 31, from Hitchin in Hertfordshire, was found guilty of dangerous driving earlier this year for hitting cyclist Joseph Belmonte after driving over a humpback bridge in Hackney, east London, on March 31 last year.
Mr Belmonte, known as Pepe to his friends and family, was hit after Lynch "lost control" of the van, suffering "catastrophic life-changing" injuries, Southwark Crown Court was told.
Judge Jeffrey Pegden QC, sentencing Lynch to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months, said: "What has weighed significantly with me is your intense guilt, remorse and utter distress at the injuries you caused that day, coupled with your immediate and appropriate response not only at the scene but in your determined efforts afterwards, until you were told it was inappropriate, to seek information about the welfare of Mr Belmonte."
Lynch, who has since resigned from British Transport Police, was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service and told he must be electronically tagged and subject to a 7pm to 6am curfew for 12 weeks. He was also banned from driving for 15 months and ordered to pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs.
