A policeman charged with harmful driving after topping 200km/h on the Hume Freeway has been cleared in a Victorian court docket.
Main Senior Constable Bradley Beecroft was initially charged with 4 offences together with reckless conduct endangering life, which carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail, after prosecutors alleged he hit 230km/h on the Hume Freeway close to Euroa in March 2021 on his method to help an injured colleague.
Prosecutors later withdrew all fees bar one depend of harmful driving, The Age experiences.
He was at this time discovered not responsible in a Shepparton court docket, the place Justice of the Peace Victoria Campbell ordered Victoria Police to pay Mr Beecroft’s authorized prices.
“Thanks to the police veterans who lifted me up by the neck and pushed me to the end line, most of whom I’ve by no means met in my life. For his or her help, I’m grateful,” Mr Beecroft stated outdoors court docket, as reported by The Age.
“Thanks to my household and pals outdoors of Victoria Police, who made positive my head was as straight because it may very well be during the last two and a half years. It’s been a really, very tough and distressing time period.
“By advantage of the Declarable Associations, have been remoted by Victoria Police from my former colleagues and pals, and the method has been made all that a lot more durable by the ostracisation.
“Phrases can’t very effectively clarify the way it has felt to should undergo this course of, because of my merely doing the job, of doing it effectively, and in an try and attend to an injured fellow police member as rapidly and safely as doable.
“I’m relieved with a simply consequence at this time and that frequent sense has prevailed. This was not solely a win for all serving cops, however for all emergency providers employees on the frontline, attempting to do the job they’re educated to do.”
We’ve beforehand reported Mr Beecroft overtook 77 vehicles, and flew by means of a velocity digital camera at 207km/h in a 110km/h zone.
It was alleged he averaged 205km/h over his 8.7km journey, earlier than arriving at his injured colleague and rendering help.
Different police additionally exceeded the posted velocity restrict on their method to the scene, however none have been charged.
Mr Beecroft holds a ‘Gold Licence’ with no velocity restrict; a qualification designed to equip police with the abilities required for high-speed pursuit driving on the general public street.
