Police driver who killed woman must do unpaid work

An officer who killed a woman while speeding in a police van has been handed a community payback order.

PC Jamie Hamill hit Margaret McCarron in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, in September 2021 when he was doing 39 mph in a 30mph zone.

Hamill, 32, must complete 225 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to death by careless driving at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

The children of Ms McCarron launched a legal action against Police Scotland.

The force confirmed the matter would now be considered by its professional standards department for misconduct proceedings.

The court heard that Hamill, of Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, was on patrol in Motherwell with a colleague in Ford Transit police van.

He was driving to a property on a routine inquiry when hit Ms McCarron in the town's Merry Street, near her home, at about 20:15.

The court was told she had been drinking before the accident but her husband denied she had been drunk.

A post-mortem recorded her cause of death as severe chest and neck injuries.

Prosecutors said Hamill, who had 18 months service with Police Scotland, had been "visibly upset" after the incident.

The court also heard he recorded negative test results for alcohol and drugs.

Murdo MacLeod KC, defending, said: "Mr Hamill has expressed profound regret and remorse over the death of Mrs McCarron.

"He knows no sentence imposed by the court could replace the loss of her.

"He feels he has let down his family and his employer and deeply regrets the consequences of his actions."

Sheriff Louise Gallacher imposed unpaid work and disqualified the officer from driving for 21 months.

She told Hamill: "It is evident from the victim impact statements that the death of Mrs McCarron has left a huge void.

"She was a carer who dedicated her life to her family and caring for others.

"It is evident that the incident has had a significant impact on you and you have been assessed at low risk of reoffending."

The sheriff said she had taken into account that the officer pled guilty at an early stage.

However, in a statement through law firm Digby Brown, the McCarron family said: "That police officer could have admitted his guilt far earlier and saved our family from the added trauma of these unnecessary and unjust delays."

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: "This was a tragic incident and we would extend our sympathies to the family of Margaret McCarron at this time."

"As an organisation, we know how much damage can be caused to public trust and confidence in policing by the actions of those who do not uphold the standards we expect in policing."