Born in 1974, Butler turned professional in 2000, after reaching the final of a tour qualifying event earlier that year.

In the former, Antony Bolsover defeated him 5–3; in the latter, he beat Ryan Day 10–9, Karl Broughton 10–7 and Lee Walker 10–6 before losing 7–10 to Bjorn Haneveer.

The 2002/2003 season was lean for Butler, as he progressed only to the last 64 of one ranking tournament, the 2003 Welsh Open, where he lost 4–5 to Robert Milkins.

His highest earning from one event came at the 2003 World Championship, where he defeated Ricky Walden and Munraj Pal, before losing 9–10 to Andy Hicks in the last 80; this brought Butler £5,700.

Following his 3–5 defeat to Wilkinson in the 2005 China Open, and his withdrawal from that year's World Championship, Butler finished the season ranked 82nd, dropping off the tour and leaving the competitive game at the age of 31.