Rogue van driver tailgated ambulance on 999 emergency call just to beat traffic

Builder Mark Clayton, 25, was seen closely following an ambulance with flashing lights in South Wales and when stopped by the police, he told officers he was 'in a bit of a rush'

A rogue van driver tailgated an ambulance rushing to a 999 emergency call to beat traffic in a "moment of pure madness", a court heard.

Builder Mark Clayton was seen closely following the ambulance with flashing lights - and was seen laughing in his vehicle. When the careless driver, 25, was stopped by the police, he told officers: "I was in a bit of a rush." Prosecutor Regan Walters said a police officer was on patrol when he saw a white Vauxhall Vivaro van following the ambulance.

The officer was travelling near Llanelli, South Wales, when he saw the van behind the ambulance travelling at the same speed and allegedly "using it as a means of progressing through traffic. Swansea Crown Court heard that the officer also saw the van driver laughing and was using his phone to record his driving. The officer followed the van and pulled Clayton over who understood when asked that he had been pulled "because I was following the ambulance."

Clayton apologised to the officer and added: "I was in a bit of a rush." He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. Clayton, of Llanelli, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He has one previous conviction for two offences for failing to stop after an accident and driving without insurance from 2022.

Alex Scott, defending, said Clayton was a hard-working builder who worked 50 hours a week or more - and noted it was fortunate that no collision had happened. Judge Geraint Walters described the driving as foolish and dangerous behaviour "by someone who thought it would be good sport to tailgate an ambulance."

He said it was worse that he was using his phone while doing it. He told Clayton that he has seen two sides to him - a hard-working individual and "an immature person in some aspects of his personal life." Clayton was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and do 160 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also banned from driving for 12 months and has to pass an extended test before he can get his licence back. Judge Walters told him that was the price to pay for a "moment of pure madness." The judge added that he sees many people using their mobiles while at the wheel - which they need to realised could cause a fatal crash. He said: "The road is not a playground. From what I see these days you could be forgiven for thinking lots of people think it is."