Harry Dunn’s parents say police must give them the report into their son’s death so they can sue his alleged killer

• Parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn asked for the report in early January  
• Spokesman, Radd Seiger, said family are considering making a court application
• Anne Sacoolas, 42, flew home to the US with her family before being charged 

Harry Dunn’s parents have claimed they are unable to sue their son’s alleged killer due to a delay in police handing over an accident investigation report.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn have said they asked for the report in early January in order to pursue a civil claim against 42-year-old US suspect Anne Sacoolas.

The family’s spokesman said the claim is essential in order for them to avoid ‘financial hardship’ – adding that their financial position has been made ‘repeatedly clear’ to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Northamptonshire Police.

The news comes as it was revealed that Sacoolas is said to be ‘desperate’ to return to Britain to meet Harry’s parents but will not surrender to police custody, according to a highly-placed source. 

The parents of Harry Dunn (pictured) have claimed they are unable to sue their son’s alleged killer due to a delay in police handing over an accident investigation report 

Pictured: Harry Dunn’s mother Charlotte Charles and stepfather Bruce Charles outside the Ministry Of Justice in London

Sacoolas spoke to police at the scene after crashing into the 19-year-old’s motorbike while driving on the wrong side of the road last August. Her husband was an intelligence officer at nearby RAF Croughton, a US spy base in Northamptonshire.

But the mother-of-three flew home with her family before any formal interview or charge, claiming diplomatic immunity.

The Dunn family’s spokesman, Radd Seiger, said the family are considering making an application to court should they not receive the report by Friday.  

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said they have been working with the family’s lawyers and the CPS to identify material that could be released ‘without prejudicing any criminal trial’. 

Sacoolas was charged with causing death by dangerous driving last year but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January.

Anne Sacoolas (pictured) was said to be ‘desperate’ to return to Britain to meet Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn but would not surrender to police custody, said a highly-placed source

Mr Seiger said authorities are ‘conspiring to add to the family’s misery’

He told PA: ‘Harry’s family have, through their lawyer in Washington DC, been attempting to launch their civil claims in the USA for a number of months.

‘One of the documents that the lawyers in America need is the police accident investigation report. We have been requesting it since early January.

‘As the Crown Prosecution Service make clear in their own guidance, such requests for disclosure should generally be actioned as soon as possible.’

Mr Seiger continued: ‘The courts recognise the importance of families such as Harry’s being able to bring civil claims early on in order to avoid financial hardship.

‘As has been made repeatedly clear to the CPS and Northamptonshire Police, that is exactly the position that the family find themselves in.

‘Yet, all these months on, we still do not have the report.

‘That is unforgivable and the authorities are now conspiring to add to the family’s misery as if they were not enduring enough misery.

‘We have made it clear that we will be making an application to court in the next few days if it is not disclosed.’  

In a statement, a spokesman for the force said: ‘Following the tragic death of Harry Dunn, Northamptonshire Police commenced a criminal investigation.

‘A file of evidence was prepared and handed to the Crown Prosecution Service on November 1 2019.

Since the crash which killed Harry, the county’s police force has said it investigated two other incidents of Americans allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road. Pictured is a crash in the same area which allegedly involved an American driver on the wrong side of the road

‘After considering the evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised Northamptonshire Police to charge Anne Sacoolas with causing Harry’s death by dangerous driving.

‘In December 2019, the CPS began extradition proceedings, which are ongoing.

‘We remain committed to securing justice through the criminal justice system in the UK and will not take any action that will prejudice this.

‘The family have indicated they wish to pursue a claim for compensation against Anne Sacoolas in the United States.

‘We wish to support the family in that action and we have been working with the family’s lawyers and the Crown Prosecution Service to identify documentation that can be released without prejudicing any criminal trial.’

On Saturday Harry’s parents pleaded with the head of the Armed Forces to set up a meeting with base chiefs after claims of ‘three near misses’ involving their staff. In a letter to General Sir Nick Carter, they wrote that the base could not ‘practise splendid isolation’ when it comes to safety.

Since the crash which killed Harry, the county’s police force has said it investigated two other incidents of Americans allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road. 

Last week, there were claims a third member of staff smashed into a fence in a nearby village after driving on the wrong side of the road. 

Prosecutors have said Mrs Sacoolas should be charged with causing death by dangerous driving but the US has rejected an extradition request.

Last week, there were claims a third member of staff smashed into a fence in a nearby village after driving on the wrong side of the road. Pictured is a sign for RAF Croughton – near the site of Harry’s crash

A British security source, who had been in contact with counterparts in America, said: ‘We’re told she’s aware it’s cold comfort to Harry’s family but she has had sleepless nights since this tragic accident.’ 

Although Mrs Sacoolas has previously said she was ‘terribly, terribly sorry for that tragic mistake’, she has not met Harry’s parents. 

The divorced couple went to the White House last October to raise the case with Donald Trump but he tried to ambush them into meeting Mrs Sacoolas by revealing she was in the next room.

Mrs Charles, 45, of Charlton, Northamptonshire, and Mr Dunn, 50, of nearby Brackley, were stunned and refused to see her. 

The source told the Sunday Express: ‘She is still desperate to tell them in person how sorry she is.’

Any meeting would coincide with a trip to the UK later this year when Mrs Sacoolas is due to lecture at the Defence College of Intelligence in Bedfordshire. 

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