As a jury rules his son's death was accidental four years after the tragedy, reporter Jessica Williams talks to Ian Shaw about police pursuits and his family's determination to fight for justice.

IT WAS a summer afternoon when Ian Shaw received the knock on his door that all parents dread.

His eldest son Robert – known by his friends as Streethawk because of his love of motorbikes – had been involved in a fatal accident just miles from his Bentilee home.

PC Eric Moorfield from a Stafford road crime team had followed the 25-year-old bike fanatic after noticing he did not have a tax disc as he rode in Lichfield Street, Hanley.

He chased Robert, who according to witnesses went through two red lights on a Kawasaki Ninja, until he met his death outside The Co-op on Werrington Road, Bucknall.

Yesterday jurors at the inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.

For the police authorities and coroner it was a complex case to unravel, particularly as Robert was serving a four-year driving ban and had no tax and insurance for his vehicle.

Robert had also been previously jailed for unlawful wounding and possession of drugs with intent to supply.

But PC Moorfield had no idea of those matters when he first followed the motorcyclist for not displaying a valid tax disc.

The officer had continued the pursuit because a message to abort the operation from the duty officer had not come through before his death.

During an inquest at Hanley Town Hall, which began on June 22, he defended the pursuit on the grounds that – in making off – Robert could have been a dangerous criminal, such an armed robber.

But for the Shaw family, Robert's death went far beyond the outsider's view that he was a criminal who needed to be stopped at all costs.

For Ian, aged 55, Jackie, aged 53, and their three other children Lynsey, aged 27, Damien, aged 25, and Adrian, aged 23, Robert's death was the loss of a loving son and brother "who would do anything for anybody."

Each day of the inquest, the family-of-five appeared united. Ian Shaw even turned barrister and himself scrutinised each witness closely in his quest to uncover the truth.

Mr Shaw of, Driffield Close, Bentilee, said outsiders did not know him like the family who loved him.

He added: "He would do anything for us and our neighbours. Since coming out of prison he had said he was wanting to go straight and turn away from the bad life he had before.

"He decided he wanted to be a landscape gardener and started using the lawn behind our house to practise on."

Mr Shaw said the family had pressed for answers during the inquest because they wanted rules governing police pursuits re-evaluated.

He explained: "I would love them to not go after motorbikes at all. They have got other means of stopping people. We've been told how CCTV coverage can follow drivers from one side to the other side of the country.

"Robert's pursuit should have ended as soon as PC Moorfield radioed in his registration number.

"I know that in some extreme cases, such as terrorism and rape, pursuits of motorbikes may be necessary, but I would like police officers to be absolutely sure that someone has done wrong before they chase them."

Ian says Robert was a very experienced rider and it was ultimately his love of motorbikes that killed him.

He said: "He kept his last bike a secret from me as he knew I would not approve. Eventually he told me he had seen the Kawasaki and had not been able to resist it.

"At first we were still setting the table for Robert. Every time we heard a motorbike, we were expecting him to come round the corner."

Ian said after the result of the inquest, the family were going to lay the matter to rest as it felt like they were fighting a "losing battle".

He added: "I would have liked an open verdict, but it was obvious this was going to happen."

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "The jury has very attentively listened to, and carefully considered, five days of detailed evidence. They were unanimous in their verdict that Mr Shaw's unfortunate death was accidental. Those close to Mr Shaw continue to have our sympathies.

"We work hard with our partners throughout the force area to promote and, where necessary, enforce road safety. Our driver and rider training courses and policies are regularly reviewed to ensure that they reflect the latest policing approaches and standards."

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Story filed in: Robert Shaw inquest | Staffordshire Police | News | Bentillee