Daughter of mum killed by police officer makes emotional plea to spare him prison

Police officer jailed for killing mum in crash as he rushedd to help choking babyThe family of Muriel Pinkney, 74, who was killed in a crash in July 2022, have issued an emotional plea to keep police officer Mark Roberts from prisonCommentsNewsEliana Nunes News Reporter12:55, 07 Apr 2026Updated 13:09, 07 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesPC Mark Roberts has been jailed for 27 months(Image: PA)A police officer has been jailed for 27 months for causing the death of a much-loved mum by dangerous driving, despite her family pleading with a judge to spare him.‌PC Mark Roberts, 57, was responding to a report of a choking five-month-old baby when he ran a red light and crashed into a motorcycle ridden by a married couple on Dunston Road in Gateshead on July 8, 2022.‌The crash tragically killed the 74-year-old passenger of the bike, Muriel Pinkney, and caused serious injuries to the rider, Ronald Pinkney, who were both thrown into the air.‌Dawn, the couple's daughter, told Teesside Crown Court today that for a long time the family were angry at the officer. However, she said that now they do not want him to go to prison for doing his job and recognise that he has apologised. "Neither of us want him to lose his job," she said, adding that she wants him to learn from the tragedy.View 2 ImagesPC Mark Roberts outside court(Image: PA)‌Roberts was found guilty in February of causing the death by dangerous driving of Ms Pinkney in the crash. He was also found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Ronald Pinkney, who was aged 77 at the time and sustained multiple fractures.Dawn told the court on Tuesday that her mum and dad were inseparable after being married for 50 years. She said Ronald has gone from a fit and active man to sitting at home, while her parents used to go on regular days out and walks together.Luke Ponte, defending, said Roberts is "heartbroken and knows he’s taken away a mother who was an incredibly loved mother and wife".Article con...