Jury out in police pursuit inquest

A jury has begun deliberating in the inquest of a teenager who was fatally injured at the end of a police pursuit when he got out of a moving vehicle.

Disqualified driver Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, was one of County Durham’s most wanted criminals and was at large for burglary when he was spotted behind the wheel of a Nissan Primera in October 2019, along with four passengers including his mother and his pregnant partner.

He died following a six-minute pursuit through Spennymoor when he tried to exit his car while it was still moving and suffered blunt head injury when he was struck by the front valance of a marked police BMW driven by Pc Paul Jackson.

During an inquest in Crook, County Durham, which started last Monday, jurors heard the officer say he brought his vehicle to the side of the Primera, aiming to block off an alleyway.

Mr Bainbridge stumbled as he got out of the Primera and went under Pc Jackson’s car.

On Monday, Pc Jackson addressed Mr Bainbridge’s parents, Troy and Suzanne, and tearfully apologised.

He said: “I had no idea he would jump out of a moving car.

“In my mind’s eye, I had closed off the most likely escape route.”

He added: “I’m sorry Suzanne, Troy, I never went out of my way to hurt him, I just wanted to arrest him.”

The hearing has been adjourned until 10am on Friday.