Police Officer Cleared After Deadly High-Speed Chase That Killed Child Actor
Speeding Thief Kills Child in Pavement Crash
Joshua Dobby, 23, was tearing through a 20mph zone at up to 60mph when he lost control of a stolen Ford Focus and mounted the pavement in Penge, southeast London. On August 31, 2016, the out-of-control car struck a 10-year-old child actor and his aunt. Another child caught in the horror suffered serious injuries.
PC Edward Welch Faces Charges but Proclaims Innocence
PC Edward Welch, 34, has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing over the past six years. He insists he was doing his job to protect the public when Dobby bolted from police in the stolen vehicle. To stop the chase, Welch switched on his marked police car’s lights and sirens.
Despite this, Welch was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and one count of dangerous driving, following a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Quick Jury Verdict Clears Officer
However, after less than two hours of deliberations on December 7, the jury cleared PC Welch of all charges – a major victory for the officer and a blow to the CPS case.
Background: Dobby’s Crime Spree and Earlier Convictions
- Dobby is the estranged son of millionaire pet food wholesaler Mark Dobby.
- He was convicted of two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence related to the Penge crash at the Old Bailey.
- Dobby had 53 previous convictions and never held a driving licence.
- He stole the Ford Focus six days before the fatal crash.
- In March 2017, he was jailed for 12 years.
- PC Welch joined the force in 2008 and was a trained advanced driver before pursuing vehicles in police cars.
- The IOPC completed its investigation in August 2017.
- In June 2019, a coroner ruled Dobby unlawfully killed the victims.
- The CPS finally authorised charges against Welch in May 2021.
