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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Emily-Jane Heap & Chiara Fiorillo

Arrogant driver seen blocking ambulance in viral video gets locked out of his flat

A dangerous driver who repeatedly obstructed an ambulance by overtaking it was locked out of his flat after leaving his key inside.

A viral clip shows Albert Butler blocking emergency workers after the ambulance driver had switched on the blue lights and overtaken the red Suzuki Vitara he was driving.

However, the 38-year-old motorist overtook the emergency vehicle, driving in front of it and slowing it down.

Butler obstructed the path of the emergency service vehicle again as it continued by applying the brakes heavily, weaving into the centre of the highway, and encroaching on the wrong side of the road.

He was described as 'aggressive' by a former neighbour (Vagner Vidal/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)

His reckless driving on the A4 Bath Road in Reading, Berkshire, on February 2, was captured on the ambulance dash-cam and partly recorded by a paramedic in the passenger seat on her phone.

Butler was described as a "nasty piece of work" and "aggressive" by neighbours at his former home in Rainham, Essex.

A neighbour named Christine told Mail Online : "He's a nasty piece of work that man.

"He would stand across the road staring at us and waving his fists at us over nothing. One day he threw a plastic block at me."

When approached by journalists at his home, Butler refused to comment and shouted: "Leave now. I am not happy about this."

He then stormed out of the building barefoot to take photos of reporters and call the police, but was left locked out when he realised he had left his key inside.

Following an investigation carried out by Thames Valley Police Butler, of Windermere Road, Reading was charged with dangerous driving and obstructing/hindering an emergency worker.

He has been spared immediate jail (Vagner Vidal/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)
Butler blocked the path of an ambulance on blue lights while on the way to an emergency (Vagner Vidal/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)

He pleaded guilty to both offences in a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court on August 10 and the case was adjourned for sentencing to Reading Crown Court on November 2.

In court last week, Butler was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work over an 18-month period.

He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay costs of £600.

Investigating officer Sergeant Matt Cadmore, of Thames Valley Police, said: "The manner of Butler's driving was completely unacceptable.

"In deliberately attempting to hinder the progress of this ambulance, he was putting other road at great risk, and at the same time, delaying an emergency vehicle en route to a medical emergency.

"This sort of behaviour on our roads will not be tolerated and we will take robust action against anybody who seeks to drive in this manner.

"Butler will have to complete an extended driving test at the conclusion of his disqualification in order to get his licence back, and has been given a suspended prison sentence, which will be enacted immediately should he be convicted of any other offences.

"When you see an emergency vehicle with blue lights and sirens activated, please allow them to pass when it is safe to do so.

"Seconds can make all the difference when an ambulance is on an emergency call, and the delays that Butler caused could have had significant impacts to the call that they were attending."

The ambulance had its siren and lights on (Stock photo) (INS News Agency Ltd)

Mark Ainsworth, Director of Operations at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, added: "This was the worst standard of driving suffered by one of our hard-working ambulance crews who were responding on blue lights to a potentially very serious emergency that I have ever seen.

"Our ambulance crews are highly-trained, able to safely drive at speed when necessary and I’m thankful that the vast majority of other road users are considerate when we need to travel on emergency lights.

"In this case, however, the senseless and irresponsible actions undertaken by the defendant put himself, other road users and our ambulance crew at risk of serious injury or even worse.

"I have been in touch with the crew and thanked them for maintaining their professionalism at such a distressing time.

"I would also like to thank Thames Valley Police for their help in bringing the conviction and taking a dangerous driver off our roads for the next three years at least."

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