A special constable who used his patrol car as a barrier to block men on motorbikes who were riding towards him and his colleagues has lost his job as a driving instructor and been left with a criminal record.

Rather than be hailed as a hero, Andrew Blades, 38, was supervising two other special constables on an anti-social behaviour patrol in Bury in May last year when, at around 10.00pm, they came across two motorcyclists who were speeding toward him and his colleagues.

Mr Blades swung his patrol car across the road to block the bikes’ path to his companion. The bike then skidded into the police car and the rider and his passenger suffered cuts and bruises.

An investigation was launched by traffic police and Andrew was hauled to court and convicted of dangerous driving, which ultimately led to him losing his driving instructor job.

It has since transpired that one motorcyclist was uninsured and the other was unlicensed.

Mr Blades had volunteered with Lancashire constabulary for 6 years and had an 'unblemished' record.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary said:

"Mr Blades had only received the most basic level of police driver training and he was neither trained nor authorised to carry out a manoeuvre like the one he attempted. [His] behaviour on this occasion clearly fell below the high standards expected." Lancashire Constabulary

A spokesperson for the Criminal Prosecution Service told ITV: