A FORMER police officer who was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving has been found not guilty.

Police Constable Louie Wellfare, 28, from Pevensey, was in a marked Sussex Police car when it crashed into a man walking in Bear Road, Brighton on July 17, 2019.

The man, named by his family as Andy Gunn, sustained serious leg injuries and was taken to hospital.

Mr Wellfare was tried from February 28 in Lewes Crown Court sitting in Brighton Magistrates’ until last Thursday, March 3.

The jury returned a not guilty verdict under the direction of the judge.

The incident was initially investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) from July 2019 until March 2020.

The IOPC passed on evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2020 and PC Wellfare was charged in March 2021.

The Argus: Picture from the crash in 2019Picture from the crash in 2019

Appearing at Hove Crown Court last June, Mr Wellfare denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving while he was on duty in the police patrol car. He did however hand in his resignation to Sussex Police.

In a letter at the time, he described the heavy toll traumatic incidents and abuse had taken on him.

Mr Wellfare has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression since joining the force in 2015.