A 'RECKLESS' and 'selfish' driver clocked up nearly 120mph in his Jaguar on the Spur Road earlier this year.

Poole Magistrates' Court heard Nicholas Curtis, 58, was speeding up the eastbound lane towards the Ashley Heath roundabout on February 23 when he was spotted by police officers in an unmarked car at around 11.30pm.

His speed was recorded as 117.7mph, well above the dual carriageway limit of 70mph.

The court heard the conditions that night were cloudy and damp, with the possibility of ice on the road.

Curtis, of Woolslope Road, West Moors, admitted exceeding the speed limit. The court heard he already had six points on his licence from prior speeding offences.

The father-of-one told the court he was sorry for his actions, but requested a shorter disqualification so as not to overly affect his work in the car body repair industry.

He said: "I apologise to the court for my stupidity, I deserve whatever I get.

"I ask for leniency on time, I am a sole trader and run a car body repair shop, the longer I get will have a direct impact on my work."

The district judge imposed a fine of £750 and ordered Curtis to pay the Crown's costs of £85 and the £75 victim surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for six months.

After the case, Sergeant Mark Farrow, of the Dorset Police No Excuse team, said Curtis had been fortunate no one was hurt during his stunt.

"Driving at such speeds is completely reckless, irresponsible and selfish," he said.

"Not only is it endangering themselves, but fellow road users as well.

“Speed is a major factor in about a third of all traffic collisions. Each year, in excess of 700 people die and more than 4,500 are injured nationally as a result of speeding.

“Dorset Police is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and seriously injured through road collisions each year.

"Speed is one of the fatal five main contributory factors to road collisions, the others being drink/drug driving, use of mobile phone whilst driving, failing to wear a seat belt and driver distractions and careless driving."

In June last year 25-year-old Anthony Hutchinson, of Keeble Road, Bournemouth, was handed a 10 month suspended jail term after leading police on a 130mph chase along the A35.

Perhaps the fastest speed recorded on Dorset roads was Brendan John Matthews, 28, of Wyke Road, Weymouth, whose car was said to have been clocked by police travelling at 152mph on the A35 at Puddletown.

Matthews however only accepted a maximum speed of 140mph. He received an 18 week suspended prison sentence.

Nationally, in 2015, Shaun Davis, 42, of Woodpecker Drive, Northampton, was jailed for 28 months after he filmed himself driving at 192mph on roads in the area, thought to be the highest speed recorded in a speeding offence on UK roads.