October 10, 2024

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Love Island star Ellie Brown handed road ban after speeding at 101mph

Ellie Brown told a court that a driving ban would cause her ‘exceptional hardship’ as she would not be able to travel for modelling and fashion work (Picture: Ellie Brown/Instagram)

Ellie Brown told a court that a driving ban would cause her ‘exceptional hardship’ as she would not be able to travel for modelling and fashion work (Picture: @brown.elle/Instagram)

A Love Island star clocked speeding at 101mph has been banned from driving after magistrates rejected her ‘exceptional hardship’ plea.

Ellie Olivia Brown had tried to avoid a six-month disqualification by saying not being on the road would harm her modelling and fashion work.

The 22-year-old was caught breaking the 70mph limit in a Mercedes-Benz GLC on the M42 at Curdworth, Warwickshire, on June 5, 2019.

After pleading guilty at an earlier hearing, the case was adjourned so she could put forward her mitigation due to the potential loss of income in her national self-employed work through an agency.

But after hearing she earns around £2,000 a week and a disqualification would not impact other people’s jobs, the influencer was given six points, amounting to a total of 12 on her licence and an automatic six-month ban.

The reality star addressed the bench at Coventry Magistrates’ Court herself today after her solicitor informed the clerk by phone that he had been heavily delayed on a five-and-a-half-hour drive south from Manchester.

Love Island star clocked at 101mph is banned from driving after magistrates reject her 'expectional hardship' plea

Brown has received a six-month disqualification from driving after reaching 12 points on her licence due to a speeding offence (Picture: @brown.elle/Instagram)

She said: ‘I have been self-employed for the past two-and-a-half years.

‘I was on a TV show and when I came out I moved to Manchester to do modelling and different kinds of media. I do a lot of travelling to shoots and it could be anywhere from London, Scotland, Leeds or all over the UK.

‘My fashion brand’s factory is in Leicester and I have to go there carrying a lot of stock.’

Brown appeared in the 2018 edition of Love Island on ITV2 (Picture: ITV/Rex)

Brown, who moved from Newcastle to Cheshire after appearing on Love Island, told magistrates she was not trying to excuse her actions.

She said: ‘I’ve learned my lesson and I haven’t had any other offences.

‘I’ve held my hands up and I’m really sorry.’

The model said she was self-employed, working through an agency, and had to arrange her own transport to work commitments.

Neil Gallagher, chairman of the bench, asked the Instagrammer if there would be any impact on jobs at the factory in Leicester if she was banned from driving.

She replied: ‘The employer, I couldn’t work with him because I can’t travel to Leicester.’

Brown has branched into fashion after appearing on Love Island (Picture: Ellie Brown/Instagram)

Brown declared her earnings at around £2,000 a week after tax.

After deliberating, Mr Gallagher said: ‘Exceptional circumstances is a very high hurdle and I’m afraid in the circumstances we find it does not apply in your case.’

Brown was also fined £1,660, ordered to pay court costs of £110 and a victim surcharge of £167.

Mr Gallagher said: ‘You’re on a good income at the moment.

‘You have done well but I’m afraid we can’t avoid the ban and you will have to make other arrangements to travel around the country.’

Brown entered the villa in the 2018 edition of the ITV2 show, describing herself as a ‘cheeky Geordie with loads of energy’.

The media personality, who also appeared in MTV’s Ex On The Beach, has since found success in the fashion industry, including tie-ups with BooHoo, SHEIN and Fashion Nova.

She has 1.3m followers on Instagram, where she has shared pictures including a images of herself modelling swimwear in Dubai during shoots earlier this month.

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