AN UNDERCOVER police officer who killed a pedestrian while driving like a "cowboy" and a "hooligan" has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.

PC Gary Moncrieff from Thamesmead, was accused at Blackfriars Crown Court, of knocking down 27-year-old Ravinthiran Sivanesan on January 7 this year.

It took the jury more than three hours to acquit him and his family burst into tears when the verdict was announced. But PC Moncrieff may still face a disciplinary charge.

In his defence, Anthony Pitts claimed PC Moncrieff had been forced onto the wrong side of the road by a stubborn driver who would not let him pass.

The jury heard from other motorists that 26-year-old PC Moncrieff was driving like a "boy-racer" at speeds of up to 60mph on the wrong side of the road through busy London streets in response to an emergency call from another officer.

But the PC failed to see an oncoming taxi and swerved into a set of traffic lights in Kennington Road, Lambeth, which collapsed on Mr Sivanesan as he stood at the crossing. Mr Sivanesan, who had been on his way to work at his off-licence, died from head injuries 11 days later.

The court heard the PC overtook Dartford couple Margaret Traynor and Andrew Pointer who were on their way back from the London Eye with their seven-year-old daughter, on the wrong side of the road.

His car had no siren, two tone stripes or flashing lights.

But PC Montcrieff's passenger PC Dominic Taylor insisted his colleague had used the car's horn "almost constantly" before the collision occurred.

PC Moncrieff maintained that two "aggressive" drivers who would not let him overtake, had caused the crash.

He said they closed the "safe gap" where he could have passed them.

After the trial, Mr Sivanesan's cousin Mahadevan Jeyarajah said the family was devastated by the verdict.

"The man who was the cause of the death is not guilty.

"Sso who killed him?" he asked.

"Next month another person will be killed by another policeman," he said after the trial.

December 19, 2001 11:00