A POLICE officer convicted of causing the death of a motorcyclist by careless driving has been sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

PC Patsy Blakeborough, 41, was on duty when she performed a U-turn across the A590 between Barrow and Ulverston in her marked police van.

As she did so, her vehicle was in collision with Scott Gibson's Honda machine.

Mr. Gibson, aged 23, from Barrow, suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Blakeborough denied a charge of causing Mr. Gibson's death by careless driving on the night of 4th April last year.

However, she was convicted unanimously of the offence today (THURS) by a jury following a trial at the crown court.

Blakeborough, of Tamar Gardens, Walney, was sentenced this afternoon.

She was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, banned from driving for a year and must pay £2,800 costs.

Judge Paul Batty QC said: "This case truly does represent a human tragedy."