Heather Smedley died in December 2022
14:37, 07 May 2026Updated 14:43, 07 May 2026
Heather Smedley(Image: GMP)
A police officer has been found not guilty of causing the death of a mum two days before Christmas after ploughing into her car as he pursued a stolen Audi during a high-speed chase.
PC Mark Burrows, 46, was driving an unmarked police car in Oldham when he began to pursue Marcel Doyle, who had stolen an Audi A3 from a driveway as a man was waiting to take his wife to work.
As Doyle fled, PC Burrows crashed into Heather Smedley’s Peugeot at Oldham Road’s junction with Otmoor Way in Royton. The 53-year-old died the same day, on December 23, 2022. The Audi was being driven at about 80mph in a 30mph zone, and at the time of impact PC Burrows was travelling at 64mph after applying emergency braking.
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In July 2023, Doyle was jailed for 14 years and 11 months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. PC Burrows was charged with the same offence following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
In court, prosecutors alleged he has driven dangerously, but PC Burrows insisted he had been doing his ‘level best’. Following a two week trial at Chester Crown Court which ended on Thursday (May 7), the officer was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving; and not guilty of causing death by careless driving. PC Burrows remained emotionless in the dock as the verdicts were announced.
The defendant was discharged from the dock following the acquittals. “You are free to go,” he was told by trial judge Steven Everett. Ms Smedley’s family paid an emotional tribute to the ‘most wonderful mother’ following her death. “The world was a much better place with you in it,” her family said.
“Our mum was the most kind, gentle, beautiful soul inside and out. She faced all of life’s challenges with her beautiful smile, and her bravery and courage never wavered.
PC Mark Burrows(Image: Steve Allen)
“We could not have asked for a better role model growing up, giving everything, she had to all of those she loved, and always supporting those around her. She was the glue that held our family together. Her resilience and kindness inspired us all to be better.
“She had the greatest sense of humour and contagious laugh that we will miss every single day. You were too good for this world mum, there will be a hole in our hearts forever.”
Prosecutors alleged that PC Burrows’ driving was dangerous. He was on duty in a ‘high-powered’, unmarked Volkswagen Golf R and was a member of Greater Manchester Police’s Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit.
Jonathan Sandiford KC, opening the case to the jury earlier in the trial, said police driving guidelines reference the possibility of ‘red mist’ descending during pursuits. There is a risk, he said, of a police driver ‘becoming so focused’ on catching a target that they ‘become blind and lose sight of the potential hazards and risks’.
He said Mrs Smedley was ‘making her way home’ at the time and was turning right in a Peugeot 108 off Oldham Road into Otmoor Way at the time of the crash having used her indicators.
Mr Sandiford said: “The prosecution say that during the course of that pursuit, the defendant drove his vehicle dangerously. The prosecution say that the way that the defendant drove fell far below what is to be expected of a competent and careful police officer who had undertaken driver training.
Marcel Doyle(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
“It would have been obvious that driving in the way he did would be dangerous.” CCTV showed the Audi ‘flashing’ past her car on the wrong side of the road ahead of the collision in what was described as a ‘close shave’.
Mr Sandiford said PC Burrows had ‘effectively followed’ the Audi onto the wrong side of the road and they were catching up with the row of four cars. He said: “The Audi A3 flashes past her car as she goes to turn right. She then turns right. He [PC Burrows] has not seen her until it is too late. He was going too fast to stop.
“The prosecution say the defendant failed to see or heed the movement of her vehicle. The prosecution say that the defendant failed to look for evidence that Mrs Smedley was aware of other vehicles. The prosecution say that Mrs Smedley was making what was a perfectly lawful right turn as the defendant travelled towards her at 80mph.”
Giving evidence in his defence, PC Burrows said a plan was put in place for his colleague to deploy a stinger on Salmon Fields whilst he pursued the Audi. He said he was positioned across the white lines of Shaw Road to allow for maximum visibility during the pursuit.
As he turned right onto Cocker Mill Lane, the Audi A3 drove past him in the opposite direction at speed, and he did a 180 degree manoeuvre before pursuing it. The pursuit continued onto Oldham Road, with the Audi reaching speeds of 76mph.
In the moments leading up to the crash, PC Burrows’ Golf reached speeds of over 80mph on the opposite side of the road.
A red Corsa, that was travelling in front of him, indicated to the left and braked as it moved to the left side of the road. He confirmed he had activated his emergency equipment, including blue lights and siren, to alert other road users to his presence.
He also said he was in an ‘elevated position’, and had positioned his car in the centre of the road to have full view of the Audi A3.
Asked about Mrs Smedley’s Peugeot, he said: “I saw the brake lights come on, they went off and then came on again strongly. I believed she had seen me and was adhering to the Highway Code and yielding to me.”
(Image: MEN Media)
Samuel Green KC, representing PC Burrows, said that video footage showed that Mrs Smedley’s vehicle did not move to the left side of the road.
“With the benefit of hindsight, the road starts to narrow – I believed she was moving to the near side. I was trying to give them [the other vehicles] the best chance of seeing me, and giving myself the best chance of seeing the suspect vehicle,” said PC Burrows.
“I positioned myself on the white lines. I scanned left and right for any potential hazards.” He said after overtaking the Corsa, he took his foot off the accelerator and covered the brake before going to ‘pick up’ the accelerator again. He said just one second later the picture ‘completely changed’.
“My view was obscured by the A-frame within the car,” he wept as he gave evidence. “I glanced to the offside and was looking back when the picture changed. The next thing I saw was the Peugeot indicating at the point of turning before it moved into my path.”
“I immediately applied emergency braking.” Mr Green asked: “At any time, did you do anything but your level best?”
Wiping his eyes, PC Burrows, of Broadstone Hall Road South, Reddish, Stockport, said: “I was doing my level best, like any time I go to work.”
‘He went to work that day like any other day’
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “Mark Burrows went to work that day like any other day: intent on serving the public and keeping them safe from those who seek to do harm. It is nothing short of tragic that an innocent woman died in the course of those duties.
“My thoughts are with Heather Smedley’s loved ones who continue to mourn her devastating loss. Only one man was responsible for Heather’s death that day and he’s already behind bars.
“The impact of this incident on PC Burrows is lifelong and has been compounded by a criminal investigation. It is important officers are held to account for their actions but are not fearful of the consequences of putting themselves in harm’s way.
“Our highly trained pursuit drivers are some of the thousands of brave and skilled officers who routinely face dangerous and difficult situations to protect the public. They have my full support in continuing to use their specialist training to confront danger and keep you safe.”