A quick 2022 edit to the 2014 update (and original below), but a recent surge of hits has been as a result of this much more recent case of someone acting as crassly as Avery did over ten years ago. Back in time, ‘Anneka’ was also used to identify this individual. Just be aware that both names are quite likely synonymous if ‘Avery’ is the surname in the search term, and if it involves an ambulance and a five-month suspended prison sentence.
This story and article dates from 2009. However, as of 2014 there is much talk in the media of “the right to be forgotten” on Google and – more recently – calls for stiffer penalties for harmful trolling. Coincidentally, this story has become popular again on the blog, and I can’t help wonder if there is a link. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Just for the record, I have commented on public domain information. I have expressed my own opinion on that information. Although I’m sure that people like Avery would desperately like this story to be erased from history, or at least to attempt to have it turned around into some sort of crime against her by claiming “trolling”, the fact remains that what Avery did actually happened. It was a disgusting, malicious, and dangerous thing she did. She was prosecuted for it, and found to be guilty. She admitted to dangerous driving. And the evidence given which secured that prosecution outlined some behaviour which clearly identifies the sort of person Anneka Avery is capable of being. The judge described her “moronic behaviour” as “disgusting and dangerous” – he used those words.
[The Judge] added that ambulance crews did a difficult job, telling Avery: “Your moronic and anti-social behaviour is exactly what they cannot tolerate.”
The East Midlands Ambulance Service said:
We are deeply disturbed at the actions this woman took.
She purposely obstructed our ambulance which was clearly dealing with an emergency.
People who commit this type of crime must think of the consequences – one day because of the mindless actions of someone else they, or their loved one, might not get the urgent medical care they need.
I have added nothing to the story. I have simply commented on it.
This story is almost unbelievable. It is covered in several places – the Leicester Mercury, BBC Online, Daily Mirror, and the Biggleswade Chronicle (sic). Note that the BBC story spells her first name ‘Annika’.
This vicious little chav deliberately held up an ambulance which was taking an elderly heart attack victim to hospital, while the paramedic was carrying out resuscitation in the back!
A driver laughed and mouthed obscenities as she delayed an ambulance taking a dying patient to hospital.
Anneka Avery (20) dangerously overtook the ambulance several times, cutting in front and slowing it down, despite the emergency siren and blue flashing lights.
She was banned from driving for three years.
They were taking [the patient] to Leicester Royal Infirmary, with the flashing lights and emergency siren on, when driver Iain Hunt became aware of the defendant’s Fiesta at the Bradgate Hill roundabout on the A50.
As he negotiated the roundabout, Avery overtook at about 45mph, cutting in front of him, causing him to brake sharply.
Mr Hunt overtook the Fiesta at about 70mph or 80mph but when he pulled into the nearside lane, the Fiesta overtook him, pulling right in front of him and slowing to 50mph, causing him to slam on his brakes.
Mr Hunt again overtook the car and continued at 80mph but the Fiesta followed at speed.
Ms Evans said: “At one point she was so close behind him he was unable to see the car in his mirror.”
In Groby Road, the Fiesta again swerved across his path.
Other vehicles pulled over to create a path, but Avery weaved through the traffic, stopping at the mouth of a roundabout, blocking the ambulance until another car moved.
Then the Fiesta drew alongside at about 60mph in a 40mph zone.
Ms Evans said: “Mr Hunt looked over and saw the driver was a female with a male passenger.
“Both were gesticulating, laughing and mouthing obscenities at him.”
He was again forced to brake when Avery pulled across.
In the BBC story, the most irritating part is the photo of Avery – shown here, and obviously taken outside after the hearing. I’m surprised she could fit in a Fiesta with that smug grin.
It’s hard to figure out why she wasn’t sent to prison, particularly since she was as guilty as hell and had no viable defence.
Something I missed in the other stories, but covered in Chapel Allerton Today , appears to be the fact she was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 2 years. Not a tough enough sentence by a long shot.
I suspect that the fact she is a woman who as it turns out is pregnant might have had something to do with it. Oh, and the ‘fact’ that she was “under stress at the time of the incident in July 2008”. That’s always a good girly argument to get you off, isn’t it?
This story has gone through the roof! Since it was published on Saturday it has become by far the most popular story on this blog! One interesting detail when I look at my stats, and that is how many hits have been coming from Facebook. When I followed the links back, guess whose profile I found? Someone appears to have been looking themselves up to see how famous they are.
And when I did a little more checking, the same person appears to have profiles on all the kiddie networking sites (Bebo, for example). I note that she boasts of having had “quite a few” car crashes, and that her first car was an “MG Midget” – pretty dangerous weapon for a new driver, and someone with such an appalling attitude towards others, don’t you think?
As I said above, the sentence she was handed was nowhere near harsh enough. And you can’t help but feel sorry for the kid she is bringing into this world if this is the kind of behaviour it is likely to be taught.
If Avery or any of her Facebook ‘friends’ are following this, they’ll be pleased to know that she is becoming a worldwide celebrity.