A paramedic has been cleared of causing serious injury by careless driving in an ambulance after the prosecution said it was offering no evidence against her.

Eileen Ann Ireland, of Bryn Lane, Llanllwchaiarn, near Newtown, had denied the charge against her and was preparing to stand trial at the crown court next month.

But on Thursday, May 23, the judge entered a not guilty verdict for Ms Ireland, who did not appear in court, after explaining that he believed a jury would have "struggled" to find her guilty and "may see it as an unavoidable accident".

Ms Ireland was driving an ambulance along the A483 between Llananno and Llanbadarn Fynydd in Radnorshire on July 30, 2022, when it collided with a motorcycle which left motorbike passenger Sandra Dawson suffering "life-threatening injuries".

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His Honour Judge Simon Mills said: "It seems both of the experts are neither able to say whether the motorbike was in view at the time Ms Ireland started to make the manoeuvre and it doesn’t seem to be a gratuitous U-turn. They were being called to another job.

"This is a case where the jury would have struggled to find the defendant guilty of any offence and may see it as an avoidable accident."

The prosecution said there were "conflicts" between the complainants' recollection of the "very fast-moving incident" and expert evidence.

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Prosecuting barrister Thomas Scrapens said: "When one looks at the calculation and evidence, the Crown makes no aspersions on the complainant of making mistruths in any way. Their recollection versus the expert evidence conflicts. I formerly offer no evidence and invite a not guilty verdict."

Judge Mills added: "If the defendant was here, I would say she has no stain on her character as a result. I also make no criticism of the two motorcyclists.

"It was an unfortunate accident. This case is at an end."