Tragic decision ended career of dedicated PC

Officer lived and breathed police work but now she's been jailed after teenager left in a vegetative state

- STEPHEN TOPPING

IT was the only job Sarah De Meulemeester ever wanted.

The 26-year-old was described as a 'great asset to Greater Manchester Police, who 'lived and breathed' being a police officer. But in the words of Judge David Aubrey KC: "All that is now at an end."

PC De Meulemeester was behind the wheel of one of three GMP cars responding to a 'grade one emergency' in Stockport on December 26, 2020. She made a reckless choice to drive dangerously beyond her capabilities in the force.

It was a decision that would have tragic consequences and leave a teenager's family to go through torture. Liverpool Crown Court heard officers in Stockport received a message that a suspect was carrying a knife information that later turned out to be incorrect.

One of the three cars, driven by an officer who was allowed to drive at high speeds, raced ahead. As a basic driver' at GMP, De Meulemeester should have held back. Instead, she travelled at speeds of up to 61mph in a 30mph zone, on a 'wet and windy' Boxing Day. The code police officers must abide by had been 'tragically ignored, Judge Aubrey said.