A former North Yorkshire Police officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct.
Jakub Sikora resigned from the police after he was convicted for dangerous driving at York Magistrates’ Court after crashing his car.
He fell asleep at the wheel of his Seat Ibiza on the westbound A64 at Fulford Interchange on Friday 17 March.
Sikora, from Selby, pleaded guilty in court and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £400 and costs of £85.
He was also banned from driving for 12 months after which he must pass an extended test.
A police misconduct hearing took place last month. In mitigation, Sikora said he had worked over on a night shift, leading to him being so tired driving home that he made a genuine mistake.
Nobody was injured, only street furniture was damaged.
In her finding of gross misconduct, chair of the hearing, North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lisa Winward, wrote: “I have found that the former officer’s misconduct is serious enough to be criminal, and it is unacceptable for police officers, responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves.
“At the scene PC Sikora said that he fell asleep at the wheel, and he has put that forward as mitigation again today. I take that at face value.
“Whilst the fact that he had to work a long night shift is mitigation, the fact that he got into a car and drove when he was too tired to do so is not.
“It was PC Sikora’s responsibility to ensure that he was safe to drive when he got into his vehicle that morning, and if he was not it was his responsibility to seek assistance, either at the end of his shift or an any time on his journey prior to the collision.
“His failure to do so is what caused the collision.
“I therefore assess his culpability as high.”
She added: “There is actual harm in this case due to the crash, namely harm to the reputation of North Yorkshire Police, delay to traffic and damage to street furniture.
“The harm risked was death or serious injury. The CCTV shows other vehicles driving on the Fulford Interchange, a busy roundabout in York at the relevant time. A difference of seconds could have led to loss of life.”
Decision: Former officer PC Sikora’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and that dismissal would have been appropriate. He has been placed on the police barred list.