Jurors in the inquest into the death of 19-year-old Kelvin Bainbridge killed by a police car have reached the verdict of misadventure.
The wanted teenager was hit and killed after leading the police on a chase through Spennymoor, County Durham, on October 18, 2019.
He was driving back from a scan at University Hospital North Durham where he had just found out his partner’s baby was a boy. In his car at the time were his mother, partner and two passengers.
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A police officer recognised Bainbridge, contacted control and followed him to the car park of the Black Horse Inn pub in Tudhoe, where a marked car was sent to intercept him.
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When PC Paul Jackson arrived in a marked police BMW Bainbridge set off “at speed”.
During the six-minute chase, the cars reached speeds of more than 70mph.
Read more: Officer's apology to parents of teen killed in Spennymoor
On reaching Central Drive in the Middlestone Moor area of Spennymoor he jumped from the car as it was still moving and was struck by the police car which had been following him.
A pathologist’s report by Dr Jennifer Bolton gave Kelvin’s medical cause of death as a blunt head injury.
An inquest into his death held at Crook Coroners Court over the last two weeks looked in depth at the final 2.64 seconds before the collision.
Read more: Officer claims no vendetta against teen killed in Spennymoor
Lawyer for the Bainbridge family Mr Jamie Burton KC argued PC Jackson had chosen a “highly dangerous” course of action in manoeuvring to the driver’s side of the Nissan.
But PC Paul Jackson said in evidence he planned to use his car to block an escape route to an alleyway, giving him and following officer PC Tate more time to intercept the prolific offender.
He said he had “no idea” Kelvin would try to jump from his car while it was still moving, adding: “In my mind’s eye, I had closed off the most likely escape route.
“I wanted Kelvin Bainbridge to get out of the car and think ‘s**t, that way is closed’ and slow him down.”
The officer stood by his decision saying he “made all the right calls” but apologised to Kelvin’s parents Troy and Suzanne for how events concluded. “I was trying to do the right thing, I am so sorry for how this finished. I am,” he said.
Read more: Teen died in Spennymoor after finding out unborn baby's gender
Mum Suzanne had told the jury PC Jackson had a “vendetta” against her son, while dad Troy said his son had previously expressed that he believed the officer wanted to kill him.
But the PC said he had no vendetta against him and that Kelvin “didn’t feature any higher in my professional life that any other person I would deal with.”
The inquest heard from Mr Robin Turner, a now-retired collision investigator, who filed a report into the crash and said Officer Jackson would have had no time to stop after seeing Kelvin decamp.
The jury forewoman said: “There is no evidence to suggest the pursuit commenced for any other reason than to protect the public.
Read more: Mum reveals son's final words before fatal Spennymoor crash
“The jury accepts the decision to use the tactical manoeuvre.
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“The dash cam footage confirms the evidence that there was insufficient time to prevent impact between the deceased and the police vehicle.
“It is therefore determined that the death was caused by the misadventure of the deceased due to exiting a moving vehicle.”
Senior assistant coroner Crispin Oliver said: “Members of the Bainbridge family I wish you well in the future.”
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