Malcolm Searles, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving, one count of dangerous driving, and two counts of speeding at Southwark crown court on Tuesday.
The officer was driving a marked police vehicle on the evening of August 23rd 2008 when he collided with Sandra Simpson, 61.
A subsequent investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found Mr Searles had been using the vehicle for personal reasons and had been travelling at over 50mph in a 30mph zone in central Bromley when he hit Ms Simpson.
IPCC commissioner, Mike Franklin, said: 'This officers behaviour in driving a police car at excessive speed in residential 30 mph zones on what amounted to no more than personal errands was irresponsible in the extreme. His actions showed blatant disregard for the safety of the public, and tragically his recklessness has cost an innocent bystander her life.
'I would like to again extend my condolences to the family of Sandra Simpson. The public has a right to expect that where police are driving at speed on our roads it is for entirely urgent and necessary reasons our investigation found it was quite the opposite in this case.
The Met also issued an apology to Ms Simpson's family.
The police force said the incident was immediately recognised as a 'serious act of misconduct by an individual officer'.
In April 2009, Mr Searles was dismissed from the force.
'The actions of one individual should in no way be seen as a reflection of the thousands of police officers who respond daily to emergency calls and drive to the highest standards in line with police driver training and we sincerely hope that the actions of a single maverick officer does not influence the views of the people we serve,' a statement from the Met declared.
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