by Dan Bloom

A pensioner has been spared jail after he ran a red light and killed an off-duty police sergeant.

Roland Millington, 76, mis-read a traffic signal and swung into the path of DS Terry Easterby, knocking him from his motorbike.

The popular 44-year-old officer, who was married with twin girls aged six and a grown-up daughter, was dragged along by another car on the A2 London Road in Rainham and died from his injuries.

Medway magistrates called the case tragic as they gave retired engineer Millington, of Cooling Road, Cliffe, a suspended prison sentence after he admitted death by careless driving on Friday.

They heard grandfather-of-three Millington was on his way to an appointment at 7.30am on Friday, February 25, when he pulled into the right-hand lane ready to turn at the junction with Bloors Lane.

He mistook the "straight ahead" arrow, which was green, for the "turn right" arrow, which was red. He did a U-turn in his 1995-registration Peugeot 306 car - straight into the path of DS Easterby's Honda bike.

The officer, who lived in Rainham and had 25 years' experience, was described after his death as "professional, committed and respected" with a "shining personality".

A plaque in honour of DS Easterby (below) was unveiled at Medway Police Station in August.

None of DS Easterby's family were at court, where Millington's wife and son sat in the public gallery.

Patrick Bligh, for Millington, said: "He has lost confidence and become an older man than he was. He has not been able to sleep at night as he has been constantly thinking about the accident and the Easterby family.

"He has not driven since the crash and he has no wish to drive a car again. This is a tragic case. These are two people who have done credit to their community."

Millington, who had been driving for 50 years, was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital after the accident and walked on a crutch into court.

He was given a 120-day prison sentence - suspended for a year - and told to live and sleep at his home for six months.

Millington also had his licence revoked for a year, meaning he will have to take an extended test to regain it, and paid £85 court costs.

Magistrate Christine Ford said: "We recognise this has been a tragedy for everyone concerned, and we feel it was a complete accident."