A police officer who was forced to retire after being injured during a high-speed crash on a driver training course has settled a claim against Fife Constabulary.
Former police constable Colin Bissett’s long-running case was set to be heard at Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday but an out-of-court settlement was reached earlier this week.
He had been seeking £300,000, but the details of the agreement have not been released.
Mr Bissett, from Kirkcaldy, lodged the damages claim against the Scottish Police Services Authority, claiming the accident at Tulliallan Police College had left him disabled and depressed.
He lost his job and his injuries had a devastating effect on his family life, leaving him disabled, depressed and with ”intermittent sexual dysfunction” according to the writ issued against the authorities.
Mr Bissett, who was a traffic officer in Fife, claimed in papers lodged at the court that the officer conducting the training course, Sergeant Vinnie Fisher, had been negligent because he was distracted by domestic affairs.
On June 12 2007, Mr Bissett was in a car with DC Derek Cree of Strathclyde Police and being driven by PC Angela Hier of Northern Constabulary. She lost control in wet conditions, crashed into a field and rolled over several times.
Mr Bissett was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary with severe whiplash, extensive neck and torso bruising, and extensive nerve damage to his left shoulder.
Despite making attempts to return to full duties and receiving a Chief Constable’s Commendation in 2008 for chasing down a knife thug, he was eventually forced to retire on health grounds in 2010.
Mr Bissett placed ultimate responsibility for the accident with Sgt Fisher, stating he failed to take note of PC Hier’s nervousness about high-speed driving and ignored her concerns about carrying out an overtaking manoeuvre through heavy lying water immediately before she spun out of control.
His writ stated: ”Sgt Fisher had, throughout the course, advised the trainees he was selling his house and buying a new house. He also advised the trainees he was ‘stressed out of his box’ and was up at 5am to decorate his old house.
”He spent much of the course on his mobile phone, speaking to his solicitor, estate agents, financial advisors and others involved in the house purchase. The trainees were delayed in departing for training on several occasions as he was engaged in conversation on his phone.”
The papers continue: ”He was also engaged in conversation on his phone while the trainees were driving the training car on public roads at high speed. He did not give his full attention to the course or trainees.”
The court action stated Mr Bissett has suffered from constant pain, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, low self-esteem and a lack of motivation as a result of his injuries. He said he suffered flashbacks and is now considered disabled.
His medication causes ”drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, sleep interruption, constipation and intermittent sexual dysfunction.”
The claim states: ”His relationship with his family has been adversely affected. He is withdrawn, moody and short-tempered. He has become forgetful and anxious. He is restricted in playing with his children. He is unable to play golf. He was required to sell his motorbike as he was no longer able to use it.”
Lawyers for the Scottish Police Services Authority always admitted liability but contested the level of damages being sought.
The authority declined to comment on the agreement. A spokesman for the SPSA said: ”We can confirm that the insurance company acting on SPSA’s behalf reached a settlement with Mr Bisset earlier this week that was acceptable to both parties.”