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The family of the Holloway teenager who died after crashing his moped during a police chase last week have secured the services of a lawyer who specialises in complaints against officers.

Lewis Johnson, 18, was travelling on a white Vespa scooter when he collided with a van in Clapton Common last Tuesday after a pursuit by police which started in Dalston.

Another man, aged 19, who was sitting on the back of the scooter, was injured and remains in hospital. Lewis died at the scene.

The teenager, whose nickname was “Lighty”, was a former St Aloysius’ College pupil and a talented footballer who had played for Premier League side Crystal Palace’s youth team.

His family is represented by Andre Clovis, of Tuckers Solicitors’ police actions department, who specialises in misconduct complaints against police officers, including appeals to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and bringing civil claims against police forces.

The Tribune approached Lewis’s family this week, but they declined to comment.

Mr Clovis said: “The family are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of their son and brother. The IPCC are conducting an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lewis’s death and they shall await the outcome of this investigation before commenting further.”

Mr Clovis also undertakes inquests, notably those involving mental health deaths following police contact or after high-speed police pursuits.

The solicitor represented the family of 17-year-old Liam Albert, who died when the stolen car he was driving crashed following a police pursuit in Surrey in 2009.

This was ruled an accident by an inquest jury, who concluded the Met made “a material contribution” to his death.

Jurors found police methods during pursuits were inadequate, communication between the police car and the command incident room was insufficient, and the risk assessment of the pursuit had been ineffective.

Meanwhile, the IPCC has vowed to conduct “a thorough and robust” investigation into last week’s incident.

The Met said they had responded to reports of a smash-and-grab in Kingsland Road earlier that day. Officers attended the scene, and moments later spotted a moped fitting the description they had been given in Stamford Road, Dalston.

The Met said officers gave chase after the moped failed to stop. The police helicopter was also called. Following a two-mile chase the moped crashed in Clapton.

The pillion passenger was arrested on suspicion of theft the following day. He has been bailed to attend a police station in late March, pending further inquiries.