Two West Yorkshire police officers have been commended by Lincolnshire Police for their courage and bravery at the scene of a tragic road traffic collision in Mablethorpe.

The two police officers, Detective Sergeant Stuart Spencer and Police Constable Mark Walker, were off-duty and visiting the area with their families on one of the busiest Bank Holiday weekends of the year.

At around 6.10pm on Saturday 28 May 2005 42 year old Victoria Foster from Nottinghamshire was pushing her partners two year old grand daughter Devon Sharpe in a buggy past the Golden Sands Holiday Park on Quebec Road. It was busy and there were many people in the area at the time.

Mark Alan Howes had been celebrating his 29th birthday during that afternoon, consuming alcohol in a number of bars in the local area before setting off in his blue Ford Escort. As he traveled along Quebec Road towards Mablethorpe his vehicle veered onto the wrong side of the road, colliding with two vehicles before mounting the pavement and colliding with Victoria and the little girl. He continued traveling and rejoined the carriageway before stopping further down the road.

Tragically Victoria sustained serious injuries and despite every effort to save her, she died at the scene. Devon sustained a broken ankle and a head injury and was taken by ambulance to Pilgrim Hospital for treatment. She went on to make a full recovery from her injuries, although she still suffers from nightmares about that evening.

D/Sgt Spencer and PC Walker witnessed the horrific collision and noticed that the offending driver was trying to make good his escape. Without fear they went to the Ford Escort restrained the driver Howes who became violent towards them. They managed to hold Howes down until local police officers arrived. The wives of the two officers went to the assistance of Victoria and Devon. They remained until the ambulance arrived.

Mark Alan Howes was charged with causing death by careless driving whilst unfit through drink, failing to provide a specimen of breath and possession of cannabis resin and bush. On Thursday 29 September 2005, Howes was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court to five years imprisonment. He was also banned from driving for five years.

Sgt Dave Kay from Lincolnshire’s Road Safety Partnership was the Senior Investigating Officer on the case and nominated the two officers for the commendations. He said, “This was a very traumatic and difficult investigation and I can’t praise the investigation team enough for their detailed work. Whilst no sentence can be long enough for the families, I am satisfied that the investigation was thorough and beyond reproach.”

He went on to praise the two West Yorkshire officers, “D/Sgt Spencer and PC Walker showed courage and bravery and their actions undoubtedly prevented Howes from leaving the scene. Their actions that evening were in the finest tradition of the police service and I believe they truly deserve the recognition.”

D/Sgt Stuart Spencer, 38 years old and PC Mark Walker, 34 years old were presented with their Chief Constable’s Commendations at West Yorkshire’s headquarters in Wakefield on Friday 26 May 2006. Three officers from Lincolnshire Police - PC Julia Strachan (officer in charge), PC Gary Chance (collision investigation) and Sergeant Craig Dunderdale (traffic supervisor) - were also commended by Chief Superintendent Dave Wheeler for their involvement on the day and the ensuing investigation.

PC Mark Walker spoke on behalf of the two officers, “We are really honoured to have received these awards and happy that our actions went someway to bringing justice in this case.”

He continued, “As for the sentencing of this individual, no time is long enough to pay for the life of an innocent woman.”