Police officers face misconduct probe after botched investigation into death of teenage footballer

Three police officers face a misconduct inquiry after a botched investigation into the death of a gifted teenage footballer, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has stepped in to probe Lancashire Constabulary’s handling of a hit-and-run incident following allegations that officers may have misled prosecutors.

Dylan Crossey, 15, was struck by a BMW driven by businessman David Harwood while cycling on a country lane near the village of Whitestake in 2016. Mr Harwood, who the prosecution claimed had been drinking before the crash, failed to stop and drove to a rendezvous with a woman he had earlier met on the internet, leaving Dylan – who had played for Manchester City’s youth academy – dying in the road.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has stepped in to probe Lancashire Constabulary’s handling of a hit-and-run incident (file image of police officers)

The businessman later pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, but his trial collapsed in March 2018 and he was acquitted.

Tracey Milligan, Dylan’s grieving mother, then turned detective and discovered Mr Harwood was the director of a firm that had a £280,000 contract to repair Lancashire Police vehicles.

Now, in a dramatic development, the IOPC has revealed it has obtained a ‘substantial amount of material’ relating to the police investigation.

An IOPC spokesman said: ‘Three officers have been served notices that they are under investigation for potential gross misconduct. This relates to allegations they may have provided misleading information about the investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service.’

Ms Milligan has accused Lancashire Police of a catalogue of blunders during its investigation into her son’s death.