Cop 'spirited woman driver from M1 crash'

Jayne Swanson's unlit Landrover was hit by a taxi driven by Mohammed Sharif after it veered across an M1 slip road before coming to a halt in the middle of the carriageway.

Her partner, Andrew John Cockburn, a serving South Yorkshire policeman, arrived shortly after the smash and took her away in his car.

He ignored the pleas of Highways Agency Patrol Officers to stay at the scene until police arrived, telling them he was taking her to hospital even though an ambulance was on its way. When police went to their addresses later that night, they found nobody home.

Paul Davison, prosecuting said: "The Crown say the actions of Mr Cockburn prevented the officer in taking a breath test from Miss Swanson after she was involved in a road traffic collision."

Swanson, aged 41, was convicted of drink driving at Wakefield Magistrates' court while Cockburn, also 41, was found guilty of obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty. Both are appealing their convictions and sentences at Leeds Crown Court.

Mr Davison said the accident happened at around 2.15am on May 1 2006 on the M1 northbound slip road leading to Dewsbury at Junction 40.

He said: "At this time Mr Sharif was driving his Toyota taxi on the nearside of the motorway leaving the carriageway.

"He became aware of someone driving a Landrover with no lights on, veering across two lanes. The car then stopped dead at an angle and he couldn't avoid it."

The court heard Swanson looked 'dishevelled' and was seen walking up and down the hard shoulder in her bare feet.

Six witnesses, including military policeman Grant Walker and his pregnant wife who stopped at the scene, said Swanson smelled of alcohol.

Mr Walker said: "I asked whether she had been drinking and she said to me she had "two or three" glasses.

"She could have been in shock and she could also have been drunk. She didn't appear to know where she was. She said she was heading for Sheffield but at the time we were heading north towards Leeds."

Wife Leanne said: "She was really confused. Her eyes were glazed and there was a really strong smell of alcohol on her breath."

The court heard Swanson, of Manvers Road, Swallownest, and Cockburn, of Manor Row, Wales, had been together 15 years but split three weeks before the incident.

Officers called at both addresses later that night but although lights were on there was no reply.

When police spoke to Cockburn the next morning Swanson was not at the address.

They claim they'd had an argument on the way home and she had gone to stay at her sister's house in Dronfield.

Swanson claimed she had been looking for a motorway service station following an earlier bump which shattered her windscreen, when her car was hit by the taxi.

Cockburn has been suspended from the force pending the outcome of his appeal. The case continues.