A POLICE officer accused of death by careless driving said the crash would “stay with him for the rest of his life”.

Metropolitan police constable Jack Sheeran, 25, was involved in the fatal crash in March 2019.

David Norris, 53, died after a collision between his motorcycle and a Seat Ibiza driven by Sheeran in Ulting Lane, Ulting.

Sheeran denies causing death by careless driving and is standing trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Sheeran was returning from a training course in Gravesend, Kent, to his home in Mersea on the day of the crash.

The court heard how he left the A12 to take a detour along country roads, due to heavy traffic.

Sheeran told the jury with about 40 minutes of the journey remaining, he decided to find a place to stop so he could relieve his bladder.

The court heard how Sheeran had undertaken specialist training to qualify as a police medic.

He also confirmed to the jury he is a qualified firearms officer, who had completed three operational shifts with armed response vehicles.

He was returning home from additional training when the crash unfolded.

“I have been on restricted duties since the incident,” he said.

Sheeran confirmed to the court he had taken part in two telephone calls before the crash, utilising the hands-free technology in his car.

He was looking for a “small slip road” to turn into, where he could safely park and spotted a farm track down the road and had slowed his car to about 10mph to make the turn.

Sheeran said checks of the road ahead and in his mirrors revealed no other traffic, so he “believed it was clear to make the turn”.

He said: “As I started to turn the car I have had another glance around ahead of me to make sure there was nothing there.

“Out of the passenger window I could see a motorcycle.”

Sheeran said the crash unfolded in “a split second”, with the motorcycle coming up onto its front wheel as Mr Norris tried in vain to stop before the impact.

He told the jury he felt “panic and pain, and was scared”.

Sheeran said he went to the aid of Mr Norris, grabbing a first aid kit from his car and attempting CPR before paramedics arrived.

He said: “I was scared, upset, not just at being involved. I thought I did everything I could but it obviously wasn’t enough. So I was questioning whether I could have done more.”

Putting the prosecution case to Sheeran, barrister Robert Forrest said: “I suggest what happened is you were desperate for the toilet.

“You saw somewhere on right hand side, you looked down the road, you thought it was clear.

“You didn’t make that final check and that’s what led to this collision.”

The trial continues