Driver painted his car in colours of an ambulance and used blue flashing lights to dodge traffic
Other drivers moved out of the way as Shaun Scandle sped past queues in his redecorated Renault Megane
A DRIVER who made his car into a fake ambulance with flashing blue lights and a siren so he could speed past traffic has been fined more than £1,000.
CCTV showed the white Renault Megane - redecorated in convincing yellow and green checked livery - forcing its way through a queue of vehicles at the entrance to the Tyne Tunnel.
Other motorists moved out of the way to let the fake ambulance through, apparently believing it was answering a 999 call.
But Tyne Tunnel staff raised suspicions after they saw the vehicle pass through rush-hour traffic at speed on September 9.
Officers made inquiries with the North East Ambulance Service, which said it had no record of one of its vehicles being in the area at the time.
Police later identifid Shaun Scandle, 31, as the driver.
Officers found his white Renault Megane had been covered in livery to make it look like a rapid response vehicle.
They also discovered he ran a business called Hadrian Medical Services offering first aid at events across the North East, for which he used the fake ambulance.
On the day in question he had been providing first aid for the Tour of Britain cycle race and was travelling to Blyth to attend a medical incident.
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Scandle, of Hexham, Northumberland, was slapped with nine penalty points after he admitted careless driving at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
Acting Sergeant Alan Keenleyside, of Northumbria Police, said: "This may seem like a bizarre story but the reality is Mr Scandle was putting lives at risk through his behaviour on the road.
"Those working in the emergency services receive specialist training to drive our response vehicles and the public should not try and take that responsibility into their own hands."
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