THREE police officers have been commended for their dedication and painstaking work in investigating a car crash which killed Craven hotelier Tom Bannister.

Acting Traffic Sergeant Zoe Billings, of the Major Collision Investigation Team, based in Thirsk, Traffic Constable Andrew McLeod, who is based in Harrogate, and Inspector Michael Barron (now retired), attended a commendation ceremony held at police headquarters in Newby Wiske on Thursday.

Mr Bannister, 48, who was managing director of Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold, died when the Range Rover Vogue in which he was a passenger crashed on Carseylands Hill, between Airton and Bell Busk, in June 2013.

The police investigation led to the driver, Debbie Barker, of Gargrave, being jailed for three years for causing the death of Mr Bannister while she was over the drink drive limit.

The commendation said the investigation had included many complex lines of inquiry involving medical expert witnesses and unprecedented processes.

And it continued: "The evidence gathered and presented by A/TS Billings and TC MacLeod resulted in an early guilty plea, sparing Mr Bannister’s family the distressing ordeal of a Crown Court trial.

"The investigation presented numerous challenges to the officers who never faltered in their drive to get justice for Mr Bannister and his family."

Hosting the commendation ceremony, Chief Superintendent Lisa Winward said: “The award ceremony has been an opportunity to acknowledge the bravery, commitment and dedication of officers, staff and members of the public who have gone way beyond what is expected of them.”