A MAN from Sindon has been jailed for driving offences in Reading.
Baldish Rehsni, aged 44, of Pembroke Gardens, Swindon, was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison and disqualified from driving for five years at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 31.
He pleaded guilty to one count each of driving a motor vehicle with an above-limit alcohol level and of using a motor vehicle in a public place without third-party insurance.
At around 12.05pm on Monday, January 30, a black Vauxhall Astra veered to the wrong side of London Road, where it struck a South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust ambulance.
Nobody was injured during the course of the incident.
Though the driver fled the scene, a member of the public followed it to Liverpool Road and escorted him back to the scene.
The driver, Reshni, failed a roadside breath alcohol test and was found to be uninsured as well as disqualified from driving.
He was arrested and then charged later that day.
Investigating officer PC Jamie Payne, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Baldish Rehsni was lucky no one was hurt by his reckless actions.
“He was more than three times over the alcohol limit to drive and was disqualified from driving.
“I am pleased he has been swiftly brought to justice for his behaviour.
“I hope it serves as a warning to others that Thames Valley Police will always robustly target offenders who drive while over the alcohol limit or while disqualified.”
Emma Crozier, Area Manager Commercial Services (Thames Valley) at South Central Ambulance Service, said: “I am pleased that justice has been served and a dangerous and irresponsible driver has been taken off the road.
“As well as being an upsetting incident for the staff involved, the damage to our patient transport service ambulance unexpectedly took one of our vehicles off the road and had impacts on our local team for the rest of the day as we had to source alternative transport arrangements for a number of patients who rely on us.
“I would like to thank Thames Valley Police for securing this conviction and at a time when our staff are working incredibly hard in extremely challenging circumstances, I trust that this makes anyone who shouldn’t get behind the wheel to think twice before doing so.”
