An Audi driver's behaviour was branded "disgraceful" after he blocked the path of an ambulance on emergency response. Paramedic Karen Patterson was driving the ambulance with colleague Anthony Haslam in the passenger seat when they received an emergency call at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham.
Sounding the sirens and illuminating the ambulance's distinctive blue lights, they responded to the emergency, heading toward Nottingham's City Hospital, where traffic moved to the left to allow them to pass.
But then they encountered Dylan Kirk in his silver-coloured Audi, who pulled over as the ambulance approached, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Wednesday (May 10). As the ambulance passed him, he accelerated as if to catch up with the vehicle being driven at 45 to 50mph on July 31, 2021.
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Mrs Patterson was concerned about Kirk's driving and slowed down to pull over to allow him to pass. She believed his driving was dangerous, as he overtook them and pulled over in front, blocking the path of the ambulance and the road.
Kirk, 25, of Potters Close, Top Valley, got out, walked towards the driver's side of the ambulance - shouting and waving his arms and gesticulating. He walked to the passenger side and shouted at Mr Haslam, "get out of the ******* cab".
But Mr Haslam bravely told him to "stop driving like an idiot" - and his actions were preventing them from reaching an emergency. Kirk's then partner got out of the Audi and and was remonstrating shouting, "******* idiots".
Kirk did a U-turn and sped off towards Valley Road, leaving Mrs Patterson feeling intimidated and fearful for herself. Mr Haslam thought he was going to be pulled out of the cab of the ambulance by the defendant.
Kirk went on to admit dangerous driving and a public order act offence - but claimed initially he had slammed on his brakes because the ambulance stopped. He admitted overtaking, he was angry, and pulled open the passenger door so they could hear what he was saying.
He also claimed he was provoked and the paramedics should have been "helping people and not causing accidents", and admitted he swore at them. Judge Nirmal Shant KC said between 2019 and 2021, Kirk was engaged in a series of offences, of driving on several occasions above the specified limit, and for possessing crack cocaine and heroin.
Whilst it was a short-lived incident, she said it involved ambulance drivers who have the right to have priority on the road - and they should not have such people as Kirk to deal with.
"What you thought you were doing gesticulating, getting out of the car, joined by your then girlfriend, it is a disgrace the way you behaved towards them", she said. But she said there had been no more offending since October 2021, and on that basis, she decided to give him a chance.
His sentence was 18 months, suspended for two years, 25 rehabilitation activity days, unpaid work of 70 hours, and a driving ban for 12 months. He remains subject to a separate driving ban until 2025.
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