A policeman charged with dangerous driving after topping 200km/h on the Hume Highway has been cleared in a Victorian court.
Leading Senior Constable Bradley Beecroft was initially charged with four offences including reckless conduct endangering life, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, after prosecutors alleged he hit 230km/h on the Hume Highway near Euroa in March 2021 on his way to assist an injured colleague.
Prosecutors later withdrew all charges bar one count of dangerous driving, The Age reports.
He was today found not guilty in a Shepparton court, where Magistrate Victoria Campbell ordered Victoria Police to pay Mr Beecroft’s legal costs.
“Thank you to the police veterans who lifted me up by the neck and pushed me to the finish line, most of whom I’ve never met in my life. For their support, I’m grateful,” Mr Beecroft said outside court, as reported by The Age.
“Thank you to my family and friends outside of Victoria Police, who made sure my head was as straight as it could be over the last two and a half years. It’s been a very, very difficult and distressing period of time.
“By virtue of the Declarable Associations, have been isolated by Victoria Police from my former colleagues and friends, and the process has been made all that much harder by the ostracisation.
“Words cannot very well explain how it has felt to have to go through this process, as a result of my simply doing the job, of doing it well, and in an attempt to attend to an injured fellow police member as quickly and safely as possible.
“I am relieved with a just outcome today and that common sense has prevailed. This was not only a win for all serving police officers, but for all emergency services workers at the frontline, trying to do the job they’re trained to do.”
We’ve previously reported Mr Beecroft overtook 77 cars, and flew through a speed camera at 207km/h in a 110km/h zone.
It was alleged he averaged 205km/h over his 8.7km journey, before arriving at his injured colleague and rendering assistance.
Other police also exceeded the posted speed limit on their way to the scene, but none were charged.
Mr Beecroft holds a ‘Gold Licence’ with no speed limit; a qualification designed to equip police with the skills required for high-speed pursuit driving on the public road.
