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Drunk driver on wrong side of road smashed into ambulance

An ambulance was damaged in the crash. <i>(Image: Thames Valley Police)</i>
An ambulance was damaged in the crash. (Image: Thames Valley Police)

A Swindon man has been jailed after crashing into an ambulance while drink driving.

44-year-old Baldish Rehsni, of Pembroke Gardens in 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 driving a motor vehicle when his alcohol level was above the legal limit, driving while disqualified and driving on a road without insurance.

The incident occurred in Reading at around 12.05pm on Monday, January 30, when Rehsni’s black Vauxhall Astra veered onto the wrong side of London Road and smashed into a South Central Ambulance Service vehicle.

Swindon Advertiser: Rehsni's damaged car.
Swindon Advertiser: Rehsni's damaged car.

Rehsni's damaged car. (Image: Thames Valley Police)

He then drove away but was pursued by a member of the public who escorted him back to the scene.

When Thames Valley Police arrived Rehsni failed a roadside breath test and was found to be both uninsured and disqualified. He was then arrested.

No one was injured in the crash.

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.”

The area manager of commercial services for the ambulance service, Emma Crozier, said Rehsni’s actions impacted the service’s work.

Swindon Advertiser: The ambulance sustained damage in the crash.
Swindon Advertiser: The ambulance sustained damage in the crash.

The ambulance sustained damage in the crash. (Image: Thames Valley Police)

She added: “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.”