Biker killed in police chase was Met sergeant

A motorcyclist who was killed after a high-speed police chase was an off-duty Met sergeant, it was revealed today.

Irf Motani, 36, from Croydon, died when his motorbike crashed and burst into flames after a pursuit with a marked police car in the early hours of Monday morning.

Sources said the father of two had been involved in an earlier accident at about 12.20am but is understood to have got back on his motorbike before being chased by police and crashing for a second time.

It is not known whether officers pursuing Mr Motani knew he was a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police at the time.

Detective Inspector John Finch from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, which is investigating the incident, said: "Officers were looking into an incident at Croydon flyover, reports of a man falling off his motorbike, and believed this to be Mr Motani.

"They did not manage to locate the bike at the time but Transport for London cameras further located him a short distance away."

Police gave chase and caught up with him in Croham Valley Road. According to a Met police spokesman, pursuing officers then signalled for Mr Motani to stop, but he drove off.

Officers lost sight of him initially but found the bike on fire in Broadcoombe 10 minutes later, and Mr Motani's body in undergrowth nearby.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Neighbours today paid tribute to Mr Motani, who lived with his wife and two young children in a semi-detached house four miles from the crash site. Victor Lawrence said: "It's a shock that this has happened and very sad for his young family."

Mr Motani's wife was too distraught to talk last night. She said: "I am just concentrating on looking after my children who have just lost their dad."

The case follows an Independent Police Complaints Commission report this week which said police drivers in high-speed chases take "unnecessary risks".