A POLICE officer who crashed a drink-driver’s confiscated Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution into two front gardens in Hale has been fined.

PC Mark Colebrook, 30, from Motherwell Close in Widnes, had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention at an earlier hearing at Rochdale Magistrates’ Court in March.

He and another officer, Sale resident PC Stuart Foy, 34, had been due to be committed to Crown Court to face a charge of aggravated vehicle taking, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to drop the charge after it emerged that the pair had permission from a senior officer to move the car.

A spokesperson for CPS said: “After receiving a full file of evidence the case was further reviewed by a CPS prosecutor, who concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking against either officer.

“The lawyer decided that whilst it was clear that the two defendants did not have permission from the owner to drive the car, they did have permission from their senior officer at the scene to move the vehicle in order for it be collected by a recovery vehicle.”

On May 24, Colebrook was given four penalty points, fined £100 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £200 costs.

No charges were pursued against Foy, who was a passenger in the car when it crashed.

Colebrook was driving the yellow Mitsubishi Evolution in the early hours of September 3 last year when he lost control and crashed into two front gardens at the junction of Hale Road and Rydal Drive.

The £14,000 car, which had been confiscated from 23-year-old Matthew Ades on Hale Road after he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, was destroyed in the crash and had to be hoisted out of a family’s garden using a crane.

The impact of the crash also damaged a patio door, window, gate, fencing and trees belonging to two Hale families.

Both officers received minor injuries in the crash and were immediately placed on restricted duties.

A GMP spokesperson said: “The two officers concerned remain on restricted duties pending the outcome of an assessment by the GMP Professional Standards Branch that will determine whether or not they will face internal disciplinary action.”

Ades, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, was banned from driving for a year and fined £275.