David Williams faced demands to ‘take action’ while he was in hospital after suffering a heart attack
A 78-year-old who had a heart attack and fell into a coma during a driver awareness course was threatened with prosecution by police – for failing to finish it.
Grandfather David Williams was attending the ‘education’ event after he was caught driving through a red light.
He passed out and suffered a heart attack during the course and was rushed to hospital for open heart surgery before falling into a coma at Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he was pulled from the brink of death several times.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary sent threatening letters despite his granddaughter Amanda Lewis sending a sick note signed by a doctor explaining the situation.
Critically ill Mr Williams was given 14 days to pay the £100 fine and take three penalty points, or face a court hearing.
The pensioner’s granddaughter, Amanda Lewis, said: ‘I think it’s just appalling. He attended the course – he just didn’t complete it because he had a heart attack. Surely they understand that?’
Just one day after Mr Williams collapsed, course organisers TTC wrote to his wife saying he had not completed it and must take ‘urgent action’.
Another was sent from the Speed Enforcement Unit, which said: ‘Failure to meet the Fixed Penalty requirements will result in your case being processed for a court hearing, for which you would receive a summons in due course. Please note that any mitigating circumstances can only be considered by the court.’
Ms Lewis said: ‘I rang TTC and they said it was out of their hands with the police. The police asked me to prove it. That’s fair enough.
‘So I sent them a sick note from the doctor and I thought that would be the end of it, but that’s when we received the next letter.
Mr Williams (pictured with his family) fell into a coma following his heart attack while attending the speeding course
‘I think it’s just appalling. My nan had to deal with granddad being critically ill in hospital.
‘I can imagine that these things happen, but we rang them to explain what happened. Surely it should have been recorded on the course that he had to go to hospital.’
Mr Williams, of Southmead, Bristol, is still being treated in a High Dependency Unit.
His granddaughter said: ‘The doctors said he had a tear in his aorta vein, and he was about to die. They had to revive him several times during the surgery.’
On August 17, her sister rang the police about the fine and was told the sick note was not proof enough. However, police have now U-turned on the threats to prosecute.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: ‘We were sorry to hear that Mr Williams fell unwell during a speed awareness course.
‘We have spoken with his family and have made arrangements to resolve their concerns. We wish him a swift recovery.’