Police officer who killed photographer Trevor Bartlett had never driven van on blue lights before

PC Steven Allcock was spared immediate custody for his actions

Martin Naylor Courts and legal affairs correspondent 16:18, 12 Feb 2026Updated 16:20, 12 Feb 2026

Steven Allcock leaving court(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)

A Nottinghamshire police officer had never before driven a force van on blue lights when he killed legendary Nottingham Post photographer Trevor Bartlett[1].

A court heard how 12 officers should have been on duty when PC Steven Allcock, the most experienced of those who were called to an allegation of assault in Stapleford[2], volunteered to drive an "angry and aggressive" suspect to a police station.

But only four were on duty and the officer who was trying to deal with the prisoner was very inexperienced.

As the van came down the A52 towards Nottingham on blue lights, Mr Bartlett was correctly crossing the street on his way home from his local pub, the Nurseryman in Beeston, while the traffic lights were on red.

As he did so, the 80-year-old victim was struck by the vehicle and, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, was declared dead at the QMC[3].

Handing the 34-year-old father-of-two, of Toton, a 12-month community order, District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: "I would like to say to the family this is an absolute tragedy for all concerned, a loss of life that was needless, a man with a fulfilling life both in terms of family and profession.

"I wish I'd had the opportunity to speak to him because I think he would have been the sort of guy I could have had a pint and put the world to right with.

Trevor Bartlett died on December 19, 2023, after hit by a police van(Image: Nottingham Post)

"I am also sure Mr Allcock looks in the mirror each and every morning and wishes he could turn back the clock. He was performing a public duty and that makes this all the more tragic.

"He finds himself during that public duty in a dilemma.

He has a female officer with him barely out of training and they are dealing with a suspect who, for want of a better phrase, is kicking off to the extent there was concern as to his welfare.

"The dilemma Mr Allcock faces is this: Does he take the decision that it is safe and proper to carry on to the police[4] station or does he take the decision, which in hindsight he probably should have done, to pull in at the side of the road and await assistance?

"Had he done so, he might well have been criticised.

"I am sure he will live with this for the rest of his life."

Liz Reid, prosecuting, said the incident took place in the early evening of December 19, 2023.

She said after attending a report of an alleged casualty in Stapleford, Allcock volunteered to drive the suspect to a police station but as he did so the accused was banging his head against the side of the van inside the cage in which he was being held.

One of Trevor Bartlett's favourite photographs of Nottingham Forest's John Robertson lifting the European Cup in 1979(Image: Nottingham Post/Trevor Bartlett)

The prosecutor said: "The van was straddling the bus lane and middle lane and would have been 320m from the junction as the light at the junction (at the Nurseryman) turned red.

"A pedestrian (Mr Bartlett) emerged and had been on the crossing for around seven seconds on green. By now the van was in the bus lane and the speed of the van was 25mph to 28mph at the point of impact."

Miss Reid said: "Mr Bartlett was a retired photographer for the Nottingham Post. He was on his way home from his local pub and had safely crossed the westbound carriageway before he was struck.

Although he was immediately attended to, sadly he died at the Queen's (Medical Centre). It was witnessed by a number of people including a couple waiting at a bus stop close to the scene."

The prosecutor said the officer was interviewed under caution.

Steven Allcock arriving at court(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)

She said: "He said he was the most experienced officer on shift that day and had only done a couple of blue light shifts in a police car before but not in a police van.

"He said there should have been 12 officers on duty on that shift but there were only four.

"He said he saw the red light and it was not until he got too close that Mr Bartlett walked out.

"Seconds before the collision he heard banging and shouting (from inside the van) and was scared of what the suspect was trying to do and it was difficult as there were so many distractions.

"He said he wanted to get the suspect to the police station as quickly as he could.

"He said 'I would say my driving probably dropped below the standard of a competent driver'."

The prosecutor said: "Two police experts had two criticisms of the driving. The first was that he was driving in the bus lane at an inappropriate speed at the set of lights before the Nurseryman and secondly as he approached the Nurseryman junction he was driving at an inappropriate speed because his view was obscured by stationary traffic in lanes two and three and so Mr Bartlett was not visible.

The officer did not comply with his training."

Allcock pleaded guilty to causing death through careless driving.

Luke Ponte, mitigating, said his client has no previous convictions and had long aspired to become a police officer.

He said: "Mr Allcock is devastated that he caused the death of Mr Bartlett, he was responding to a very real emergency dealing with a difficult detainee.

"Mr Allcock is a man whose life has been given over to public service.

"He was placed in an extremely unfamiliar position and was relatively inexperienced having completed his initial training five weeks before that night.

"Immediately when the crash occurred, he stepped in to help Mr Bartlett."

In a statement following conviction, a spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Bartlett's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We cannot imagine the pain this tragic incident continues to cause them.

"The investigation has been led by the IOPC and following the conclusion of the court case, the officer will now be subject to internal disciplinary proceedings.

"Unfortunately, we therefore cannot comment at this stage until these proceedings take place."

Mr Bartlett worked for this publication as a photographer and was particularly well known among Nottingham Forest fans for his photos during the Brian Clough[5] era.

He was one of the few photographers who had a close relationship with the legendary manager.

His favourite photo was of a permed Peter Shilton kissing the coveted trophy after the Reds had conquered Europe.

You can see some of his most famous images in this story.[6]

Tributes poured in following his death more than two years ago.

"He was a familiar face whenever I was at a Forest game and came from the 'old school' of newspaper men," says former journalist Wendy Dickinson, the daughter of Peter Taylor, Brian Clough's right-hand man.

"He took some iconic photographs that will certainly live forever in the minds of Forest fans. I recall one in particular of Peter Shilton kissing the European Cup.

It was amazing and a real tribute to his skill."

The Independent Office for Police[7] Conduct (IOPC) previously referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service[8] , which, after examining the evidence, authorised the charge against PC Allcock.

The IOPC has also concluded there is a case for gross misconduct, which Nottinghamshire Police has agreed to.

A disciplinary hearing will be arranged at a later date.

References

1. ^ legendary Nottingham Post photographer Trevor Bartlett (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ Stapleford (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ QMC (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ police (www.nottinghampost.com)
5. ^ Brian Clough (www.nottinghampost.com)
6. ^ You can see some of his most famous images in this story. (www.nottinghampost.com)
7. ^ Police (www.nottinghampost.com)
8. ^ Crown Prosecution Service (www.nottinghampost.com)