Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Saturday, 4th July 2009

Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the Wigan Evening Post site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Family speaks out over David's death



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date:
20 August 2008
The family of a motorcyclist who crashed after a high-speed police chase ended said lessons have to be learned from his death.
Relatives of David Dimelow, 20, of Shevington, spoke out after officers were cleared of any blame for the incident on June 3 2006.
His relatives believe police should not have been chasing him in the first place.

They also claim that while officers had been stood down a distance before the crash in Orrell, Mr Dimelow thought he was still being pursued and that was the reason he lost control of the bike.
But an Independent Police Complaints Commission report has ruled the patrols who gave chase cannot be held accountable for the collision after Mr Dimelow fled the scene of a suspected crime in St Helens.

Traffic police from Merseyside gave chase but were then called off as the former Shevington High School pupil drove at speeds of up to 70mph through Billinge.
It is believed he was heading towards his family home in Gathurst Lane.
Over the drink-drive limit and still driving at speed, he lost control at Orrell Post and was fatally injured in a collision on Gathurst Road.

A Wigan police car had been parked close to the junction with its emergency lights activated, but was not involved in the pursuit.
The IPCC findings were reported at the conclusion of a three-day inquest at Bootle Town Hall.

Christopher Sumner, the coroner for Merseyside, recorded a narrative verdict citing the cause of death as multiple injuries and saying excess alcohol and speed were contributing factors.
Mr Dimelow was chased after police were called to a suspected break-in at the Duke of Cambridge pub in Duke Street, St Helens.

He had been living in a flat above the pub but left on his motorcycle as officers arrived.
His girlfriend Lauren Brown who said they had had a row and he had later broken into their flat in the small hours because she had the keys.

Click next page for more ...

The full article contains 344 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
Page 1 of 2

  • Last Updated: 20 August 2008 9:47 AM
  • Source: Wigan Evening Post
  • Location: Wigan
 
Prev
1
2
1

,

20/08/2008 14:59:03
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
2

Andy154,

20/08/2008 15:32:39
I was undr the impression that the police had stopped chasing him before the accident and that when he crashed it was because he was drunk. He was spedding and drunk it was luck that no one else got injured or killed.
3

Andy154,

20/08/2008 15:53:35
I was under the impression that the police had stopped chasing him before the accident and that when he crashed it was because he was drunk. He was speeding and drunk it was just lucky that no one else got injured or killed.
4

Homer's clone,

Orrell 20/08/2008 15:57:33
He knew what he was doing,alcohol or not.With hindsight,given the choice between a fine and ban or death,i think the choice would be obvious.
5

Mathis,

20/08/2008 16:56:58
whatever the circumstances, this young man didn't deserve to pay with his life - have some heart people
6

biker_75,

Wigan 20/08/2008 17:22:54
whilst i have every sympathy with the boys family, the lad acted like a complete idiot, and unfortunatly paid the ultimate price.
luckily, he didn't take anyone else with him.if he had killed someone else, would the protests be the same? i doubt it very much.
the police shouldn't have chased him??? get real. it isn't the police officers fault that he got drunk and very stupidly tried to ride a bike at high speed. they had every right to pursue him.
he must have thought they where still following him when he crashed??? shows how oblivious to anything going on around him he must have been.
sorry, if you drink and drive / ride, you accept the consequences, in this case, he is no longer here to do that.
7

A Grafter,

20/08/2008 18:57:52
Has anyone seen motorcycles being driven within speed limits recently?.I see them everyday travelling at 50 mph in 30 zones. Wigan Lane,Wigan Road, the stretch of road from Aspull to A6 etc etc, perhaps the police need to chase a few more of these idiots.
8

biker_75,

Wigan 20/08/2008 19:43:19
yes, and the ones in cars as well, you know, the ones using mobile phones whilst driving, pulling out without looking etc...

i agree there are some absolute thoughtless morons on bikes, but they're are just an many in cars.

but drink driving should carry a LIFETIME ban from driving, there are no excuses, simple as.
9

John LP,

20/08/2008 20:11:35
Mathis - I agree that this lad didn't deserve to die however none of these comments I have read even suggest that !!

To be perfectly honest the lessons to be learnt aren't by the Police, but by anyone thinking of repeating what this lad did !!

You have to feel sorry for the Police for having to answer to why they went in pursuit unless of course its acceptable to fail to stop, speed, ride while under the influence and God knows what else.

Thank goodness for everyones sake the Independent Police Complaints Commission rules in what seems a sensible way in the interests of protecting the law abiding public.
10

biker_75,

Wigan 20/08/2008 21:49:18
no one is suggesting he "deserved to die".
he made a totally reckless decision, which could have easily taken someone elses life, and he paid the price.
no, the lad didn't deserve it, but there are consequences for every action you make, to ride a motorcycle at high speed through a village/town whilst intoxicated is just asking for it basically.
his thoughtless actions ended his own life and has no doubt ruined the lives of his family and friends.
if he had knocked over and killed a member of your family would you be so sympathetic towards him? i doubt it very much
Prev
1
2

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.