A former detective chief inspector has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for causing the death of a father and serious injury to another individual when he blacked out at the wheel and crashed his police vehicle. Michael Cooper, 55, who had a history of unexplained blackouts, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He resigned from the police force in 2024.
Tragic Incident and Victim Impact
The incident occurred in September 2021 in Etwall, Derbyshire. Cooper was driving an unmarked police car when he lost consciousness and veered into parked vehicles. The collision tragically crushed educational psychologist James Bane, a father of two, between two cars as he stood on the street after visiting a local primary school. Mr. Bane sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. A woman who was also struck by Cooper’s vehicle suffered severe injuries and continues to experience ongoing pain and significant psychological distress.
During the sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, the court heard poignant statements from the victim’s family. Mr. Bane’s wife, Catherine, described her husband as a “thoughtful, dedicated, respected and greatly missed” individual. She expressed the profound devastation caused by his death, stating, “When James was killed, everything I knew was ripped away. The many dreams we had were shattered, and the future I had envisaged was lost.” She also conveyed her astonishment at Cooper’s lack of remorse, telling him in court, “It is staggering to me you have never demonstrated any contrition, nor reached out to say you are sorry.”
Prosecution Highlights Medical History and Warnings
Samuel Skinner KC, prosecuting, informed the court that Cooper should not have been driving due to an “unexplained medical history of blackouts that occurred without warning” spanning nearly two decades. Crucially, the prosecution revealed that approximately 12 years prior to the fatal crash, Cooper had been advised by a consultant neurologist to cease driving and to report his condition to the DVLA. However, he failed to comply with these instructions and also neglected to inform his insurance company of his medical condition.
The court heard that Cooper himself had expressed significant concerns to medical professionals about his blackouts, which are thought to be related to conditions such as Stokes-Adams syndrome (a cardiac issue causing the heart to stop momentarily) or epilepsy. He reportedly voiced worries about the safety of driving, swimming, or working at heights due to these episodes.
‘Courting Dangerous Risk’
Despite these known risks and medical advice, Cooper continued to drive. Mr. Skinner emphasized this point, telling the court, “Despite his concerns and despite instructions from a neurologist, the defendant carried on driving. The defendant courted a dangerous risk every time that he got into the driver’s seat of a vehicle.”
Sentencing and Driving Disqualification
Judge Mr. Justice Sweeting, in delivering the sentence, remarked on Cooper’s “callous disregard of the potential danger he posed.” He characterized the death of Mr. Bane as a “wholly avoidable tragedy.” In addition to the prison sentence, Cooper has been disqualified from driving for five years.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The court learned that Mr. Bane had finished a school visit and was returning to his car around 11:30 am when the collision occurred. Cooper, driving his unmarked black Peugeot, first struck the female pedestrian before his vehicle mounted the kerb and collided with two parked cars, pinning Mr. Bane between them. Cooper, who resided in Etwall, had previously denied the charges before entering a guilty plea.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Michael Cooper underscores the severe consequences of driving with known medical conditions that impair the ability to operate a vehicle safely. The tragic loss of James Bane and the lasting impact on his family and the injured woman highlight the critical importance of adhering to medical advice and legal requirements regarding driving fitness. Cooper’s conviction and sentence serve as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with holding a driver’s license and the devastating potential for harm when those responsibilities are neglected.
