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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Graeme Murray

Estate agent, 22, clocked speeding at 117mph in BMW after birthday 'mini-break'

An estate agent was caught speeding at 117mph in a BMW as she raced home following her birthday celebrations.

Chelsey Gentles was clocked by a speed camera on the M6 at nearly 50mph over the speed limit.

A court heard the 22-year-old was returning to her home near Southampton, Hants, after a mini break in the Lake District for her 21st birthday in April last year.

Gentles was driving at 117mph when the camera caught her as she was driving home after the celebratory break.

She pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates Court, Hants, to one charge of speeding.

In her defence Stephen Bentley said she was driving home to Hampshire and was keen to get home which prompted her to put her foot on the accelerator.

Chelsey Gentles has been banned from the roads after she was caught speeding at 117mph in her BMW (Will Dax/Solent News)

He said: "This was at 11pm at night, she was driving on that occasion because was had been away on holiday and was driving back to Hampshire.

"She was tired and anxious to get home, it was late at night.

"She fully accepts she put her foot down and exceeded the speed limit. It is something she very much regrets."

He added that, as an estate agent, she relied on her licence to drive clients around to different houses.

The court heard she earns £1,430 per month after tax from her job and lives with her parents.

A loan which she took out for her grey 2020 plate BMW 118i, which she was driving on the night of the speeding, costs her £254 per month and the insurance is a further £99 per month.

Portsmouth Magistrates Court where Gentles appeared (PA)

Mr Bentley added: "She is someone with a bright future, this was a one-off situation where she was tired at night and wanted to get home."

Magistrate Gary Price, sentencing, said: "117mph on a motorway is an extremely high speed and is at the top of our range.

"In fact, if there were another range above our top end it would actually be above that.

"We are disqualifying you from driving for 56 days."

He also handed her a £330 fine, a £34 victim surcharge and ordered her to pay costs of £85.

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