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The mother of a talented young footballer who died following a high-speed police pursuit while riding his moped has expressed relief after an inquest jury identified multiple failures by the officers involved.
Lewis Johnson, 18, a former youth player for Crystal Palace, was killed in February 2016 when his white Vespa scooter crashed into a van in Clapton, east London. The fatal collision occurred after a three-minute police chase sparked by reports of phone snatching.
It has taken nine years for the inquest to be held, delayed by numerous legal challenges and investigations into the incident.
Johnson’s mother, Ann Torpey, said the inquest’s findings made her feel as though a heavy burden had finally been lifted.
The mother of Lewis Johnson, a promising young footballer who died after a high-speed police chase, has welcomed an inquest jury's conclusion, which identified multiple failings by the officers involved.
Johnson, 18, who once played for Crystal Palace’s youth team, died in February 2016 when the Vespa scooter he was riding crashed into a van in Clapton, east London. He had been pursued by police for about three minutes after being suspected of mobile phone theft.
After nearly a decade of legal battles and investigations, the inquest finally took place, offering Johnson’s mother, Ann Torpey, a long-awaited sense of closure.
“The jury sided with us,” she said. “At first, I was in shock—after fighting for the truth to come out for nine years. I got on the train after leaving court and by the time I got off, a smile had spread across my face. It felt like a 10-stone weight had been lifted.”
Torpey spoke of her son’s difficult relationship with police, saying he likely fled out of fear. “Lewis had bad experiences with them. He would never have stopped in that chase. When I began seeking justice for him, I didn’t know much about the law, but Lewis gave me the strength to keep going every day.”
In a narrative verdict on Thursday, the jury at Bow coroner’s court concluded that Johnson died after crashing into a traffic light pole near Clapton Common. They found that his erratic riding—exceeding speed limits, driving on the wrong side of the road, and going onto pavements—was influenced by the way he was being pursued, with the police car sometimes driving too close, adding pressure that affected his judgment.
The jury also determined that the police driver missed opportunities to reduce the risk to Johnson and the public, especially by maintaining an unsafe distance from the moped. Crucially, they found the officer was not properly certified—lacking the necessary "initial pursuit" qualification to engage in a motorcycle chase. There was also a general lack of understanding among the officers and control room staff regarding pursuit policy, and those policies were not adequately communicated.
Torpey believes fear drove her son to flee. Regarding the phone theft allegations, she acknowledged that Johnson had made mistakes but insisted he wasn’t a bad person and had been caught up in postcode-related disputes.
“Lewis meant everything to me,” she said. “He had such a presence. Everyone loved him—hundreds came to his funeral. Our last chat was about pancakes, since it was pancake day. I asked what topping he wanted. The last thing he said was, ‘I love you, Mumsie.’ I’ll keep living for my other children, but every night I go to bed, I know I’m one step closer to seeing Lewis again.”
The family’s legal representatives, Taylor Rose Solicitors, expressed concern over the lengthy fight for answers. Consultant solicitor Andre Clovis said, “Ms Torpey has never excused Lewis’s actions, but she was failed by the legal system. It’s deeply troubling that, had she not fought relentlessly for nine years, she wouldn’t have received the clarity she’s legally entitled to about how her son died.”
Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, head of policing in the area, extended condolences and said the force would consider any recommendations from the coroner. “We have clear policies governing police pursuits. Officers are expected to follow national guidelines from the College of Policing. Those involved in pursuits, or in supervising them, are trained on how to manage these dynamic situations.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that on 4 March 2022, misconduct was proven against two officers involved. One PC, who drove the vehicle, had begun and continued the chase without proper authorization, mistakenly believing it had been approved. This led to a formal misconduct outcome.
Earlier, on 12 October 2021, that same officer had been acquitted at Kingston Crown Court of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.
Misconduct related to training was also upheld against a retired sergeant, though allegations against a second retired sergeant were not proven.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, 24 people died during police pursuits in England and Wales in 2023–24. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police data shows that the number of pursuits in London has nearly doubled in recent years—from 2,779 in 2019–20 to 4,111 in 2024–25. Of these, approximately 1,179—nearly a quarter—ended in a collision.
