A RAGING mum who nudged an Insulate Britain protester with her Range Rover has defended her actions.

Sherrilyn Speid, 34, rolled the 4×4 into eco-warriors sitting in the road while she was taking her son to school.

She was due to go on trial yesterday charged with dangerous driving but changed her plea to guilty at the eleventh hour.

An offence of assault was dropped by prosecutors at Southend Magistrates' Court.

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Speid was hailed a hero after footage showed her driving her £80,000 SUV into activist Bethany Mogie, 39, while trying to get her 11-year-old son to school.

Serial demonstrator Mogie faces no action, despite breaching a government injunction.

This morning the 35-year-old told LBC how the court's decision will impact her.

She said: "It's a huge injustice for me. I feel devastated, I feel let down.

"I've got no previous convictions, I've worked hard my whole life and I literally just wanted to get my son to school.

"He has anxiety, he's just started Year Seven. I needed to be there for him, to support him.

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"He's had 18 months of school prior to that through the pandemic. Education is really important to me. I just feel very let down."

She went on to explain that she will have to fork out a huge price for insurance – and will be unable to chauffeur around her young son.

She said: "I'm not able to drive, I can't get my son to football now which he enjoys and flourishes at, I can't take him to school.

"He's got a really severe leg injury, he's on crutches today and has had to get on a bus.

"Obviously I'm too scared to even speak my mind at this point because I know the police are not going to be on my side, they're going to be against me, and I wouldn't be able to do anything."

'MOVE NOW'

Yesterday the court was told the drama unfolded near the M25 on October 13 last year.

In footage shown Speid could be heard pleading with the protesters to "move out of the way now", adding: "My son needs to go to school and I need to go to work".

She continued: "My son is 11 and he needs to go to school."

Prosecutor Ashley Petchey said Speid was not driving at an "excessive speed" as the brakes were being used "quite heavily".

He added: "Clearly this was an incident where there was a risk, even if no injury was caused."

Speid revealed in January both Insulate Britain and Mogie no longer supported the prosecution but claimed police were still pressing ahead due to the footage.

She also vowed to fight the charge and go on trial to clear her name.

Speaking to The Sun previously, the mum said: "I'm still in shock really that it has gone this far.

"I stand by what I said and what I did – I don't think it is right to stop children going to school.

"Obviously I could have handled it better, but I can't take it back. But I did not hurt anyone – no one was injured and needed medical treatment."I am going to fight this – I feel strong and ready for the trial.

"I am not a bad person and I didn't go out of my way to hurt anyone – I just wanted to take my son to school and go to work."

DRIVING BAN

The court was told prosecutors are seeking £310 in costs and Speid has been handed an interim driving disqualification ahead of sentencing on May 6.

In a statement, Insulate Britain said previously they "stand with Sherrilyn" and called for the charges against the mum to be dropped.

It read: "Insulate Britain is calling on the police, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the charges against Sherrilyn Speid.

"Essex Police were informed on 21st October that supporters of Insulate Britain would not aid them with their investigation.

"Insulate Britain can see no benefit to anyone in prosecuting Sherrilyn.

"Sherrilyn's prosecution is yet another example of the state acting against our interests, a single mother is caught up in the frustration and delay caused by our government's treasonous inaction and then she is prosecuted for it, potentially fined.

"We stand with Sherrilyn, we stand with those facing the cost of living crisis.

"We call on the government to insulate our homes to protect us the families of Britain from unprecedented fuel hikes, the millions of households who must make the choice between eating or heating right now."

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