Drink-driver jailed for hitting ambulance in Reading
Baldish Rehsni was three times over the legal limit
Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man 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 yesterday (31/1).
He pleaded guilty to one count each of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit, driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance.
At around 12.05pm on Monday (30/1), a black Vauxhall Astra veered to the wrong side of London Road and struck a South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust patient transport ambulance.
The Astra was driven away but a member of the public followed it to Liverpool Road and escorted the driver, Rehsni, back to the scene.
Rehsni failed a roadside breath test and was found to be uninsured and disqualified from driving so officers arrested him. He was charged later that day.
No one was injured.
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.”