EVERYONE has a bad day at work from time to time.But one Suffolk policeman has been left red-faced after clattering into a motorbike in his cctv car – only to discover it was police motorcycle.

EVERYONE has a bad day at work from time to time.

But one Suffolk policeman has been left red-faced after clattering into a motorbike in his cctv car - only to discover it was police motorcycle.

Embarrassed bobby Marc Norman is living proof that depsite hours of driver training and being in a car bristling with technology and cameras everyone can make mistakes.

Norman, a serving police officer with Suffolk Constabulary, knocked a fellow officer of his motorcycle when doing a U-turn without properly checking his view.

The 26-year-old, of Yew Tree Grove, Ipswich, was fined £250, given three penalty points and ordered to pay £43 costs at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich yesterday.

The court heard how Norman was on duty when he pulled out in front of a colleague from his station on Main Road, Kesgrave - close to the force's headquarters.

He pleaded guilty to careless driving after failing to indicate before doing the manoeuvre at approximately 1am on October 24 last year.

John Hughes, mitigating, said Norman was in a hurry as he was attending an incident where it was believed a woman was being assaulted.

He said there was confusion between Norman and the police control room about where he was heading and described it as "a momentary lapse while he (Norman) was under pressure".

He said Norman had tried to check his view through the back windscreen but it was blocked by equipment as he was in a CCTV vehicle, and that the victim was not visible in his wing mirror.

Sentencing, District Judge David Cooper said: "I treat this as human error made under stressful conditions."

Suffolk Constabulary has assured Norman the conviction will not affect his future in the force.

There are no hard and fast rules to deal with convictions against police officers and it often depends on aggravating circumstances.

Simon Stevens, spokesman for Suffolk police, said: "Any offences involving police officers are, as a matter of routine, referred to out professional and ethical standards unit.

"Each incident is reviewed on a case by case basis to determine what, if any, disciplinary action is required."

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