An officer who killed a woman while speeding in a police van has been handed a community payback order.
PC Jamie Hamill knocked Margaret McCarron down in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, in September 2021 when he was doing 39 mph in a 30mph zone.
Hamill, 32, pleaded guilty to death by careless driving at Hamilton Sheriff Court last month.
He was told he must complete was 225 hours of unpaid work when he returned to court for sentencing.
The children of Ms McCarron, who died at University Hospital Wishaw, later launched a legal action against Police Scotland.
Hamill had been driving a marked Ford Transit van when he collided with the carer on the town’s Merry Street, near her home.
Sheriff Louise Gallacher imposed unpaid work and disqualified the officer from driving for 21 months.
The court heard Hamill, of Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, had been on patrol with a colleague when they spotted a car they believed had no valid insurance.
He turned the van around and made off in the direction of the vehicle with his blue lights on.
The officers lost sight of the car but, after checking the registration, decided to visit an address in Bellshill to question the owner.
As they made their way through Motherwell, having switched off their emergency lights, they collided with Mrs McCarron around 20:15.
A post mortem recorded her cause of death as severe chest and neck injuries.
The court was told she had been drinking before the accident but her husband denied she had been drunk.
Prosecutors said Hamill, who had 18 months service with the force, had been “visibly upset” after the incident.
The court also heard he recorded negative test results for alcohol and drugs.
Murdo MacLeod KC, defending, said: “Mr Hamill has expressed profound regret and remorse over the death of Mrs McCarron.
“He knows no sentence imposed by the court could replace the loss of her.
“He feels he has let down his family and his employer and deeply regrets the consequences of his actions.”
Sheriff Gallacher told Hamill: “It is evident from the victim impact statements that the death of Mrs McCarron has left a huge void.
“She was a carer who dedicated her life to her family and caring for others.
“It is evident that the incident has had a significant impact on you and you have been assessed at low risk of reoffending.”
The officer was told his crime was “at the middle range of offending” before being handed a community pay back order.
The sheriff added: “I take into account you have taken responsibility for your action and pled guilty at an early stage.”
Afterwards the McCarron family issued a statement through law firm Digby Brown.
It said: “We welcome the conviction however we remain frustrated it has taken this long to secure.
“That police officer could have admitted his guilt far earlier and saved our family from the added trauma of these unnecessary and unjust delays.”
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “This was a tragic incident and we would extend our sympathies to the family of Margaret McCarron at this time.”
