A POLICE officer answering a 999 call killed a financial adviser in a head-on collision by driving with "no regard" for others, a court was told.

John Channell, 34, died after after PC Gareth Coomber's marked Peugeot 406 ploughed into a car driven by the victim's wife Samantha while the officer was on the wrong side of the road.

The force of the impact on a winding country road caused the police car to burst into flames and propelled the Channell's Vauxhall Cailbra into a wall, the jury heard.

Moments before the crash on the B2145 Chichester to Selsey road, a fellow officer travelling with Coomber had become "alarmed" at his driving, it was claimed.

Coomber, 77, was said to have forced another on-coming motorist to swerve to avoid a collision after attempting to drive faster through bends.

James O'Mahoney, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court the crash last February occurred as the Channells returned home to Selsey. Mr Channell had been to see Southampton FC play at their ground, The Dell, before going to the theatre with his wife.

Coomber, 37, and PC James Scott received a call for assistance from other officers shortly before midnight on February 20.

Coomber was said to have taken the wheel from his colleague as he knew the area better.

Mr O'Mahoney said: "Mr Channell was tired and may well have fallen asleep. He was in the front passenger seat.

"PC Coomber drove accelerating at some speed, certainly in excess of 60pmh.

"It was quite clearly an awful collision and, as a result, the hapless Mr Channell died.

"The Crown's case is that he was totally responsible because he drove dangerously with no regard, or totally insufficient regard, for other road users.

"The fact the defendant was a police constable attending an emergency call is no excuse or defence. It was dangerous driving and a tragic accident followed."

Coomber, of Wittering, denies causing death by dangerous driving. The trial at Maidstone Crown Court continues.

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