Police officer charged five years after 10-year-old boy and aunt were killed during high-speed pursuit

A Met officer has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving almost five years after a 10-year-old boy and his aunt were struck by a stolen car that was being pursued by police.

Makayah McDermott, a child actor, and Rozanne Cooper, 34, were killed in August 2016 when Joshua Dobby, a heroin addict, struck them in Penge, south east London.

Ms Cooper's daughter Eva and Makayah's older twin sisters, Niyah and Yahla, were also injured in the crash.

Onlookers tried to lift the car off the victims following the high speed crash.

Dobby, who was jailed for 12 years after admitting manslaughter, had been fleeing police when he lost control of the stolen Ford Focus, mounted the pavement and careered into the family.

During the pursuit he had reached speeds of up to 80mph and had driven on the wrong side of the road in a desperate attempt to escape the police.

In 2017 the police watchdog announced it was investigating two police officers involved to determine whether the chase had been proportionate and justified.

On Tuesday, almost five years after the fatal crash, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it had approved charges against PC Edward Welch.

The 32-year-old faces two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and one of dangerous driving.

The second officer who was under investigation will not face any charges.

No court or date has yet been named for Mr Welch’s first appearance.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The serving officer is based on the South Area Command. Both officers were based on the South Area Command at the time of the incident.

“As is routine in these circumstances, the incident was referred to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who in turn referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who independently investigated.

"A file was referred by the IOPC to the CPS, who took the decision to charge the officer.”