Hotel owner brands 110mph speeding claim ‘fake’ after listed building daubed with graffiti
The Thomas Paine Hotel has been vandalised. Picture: Archant - Credit: Archant
A business owner has denied claims he went more than 110mph on the A11 after graffiti claiming he did was sprayed on his hotel.
Gez Chetal, director of The Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford, at the launch of his Prismstart scheme launch. Picture: ANTONY KELLY - Credit: Archant
Gez Chetal, owner of the Thomas Paine Hotel and the executive director of Trust-House Leisure in Thetford, has reported the incident to police and said the claims are “ridiculous”.
It comes after a video was posted on Facebook allegedly showing Mr Chetal’s BMW i8 speeding on the A11.
The car reached speeds of up to 110mph but Mr Chetal says it is fake.
He said: “Whoever has done this is not a well-educated person.
The Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford had a window smashed in New Years Eve attack. Picture: Gez Chetal - Credit: Archant
“We have reported it to the police and believe we know who did it as we have seen Facebook messages about it.
“The video is not of me. Anyone can easily go on to Google and find a video of a rev counter and Photoshop a new number over it.”
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Police have received a report of criminal damage at the Thomas Paine Hotel, on White Hart Street. It is believed to have happened between 11.50pm on Thursday April 25 and 4am on Friday Thursday 26.
A police spokesman said that further action will be taken and if anyone has information, call 101 quoting the crime number 36/27773/19.
Mayor of Thetford Stuart Wright with Thomas Paine Hotel's Gez Chetal in Thetford. Photograph Simon Parker - Credit: Archant
The damage to the grade two-listed building comes just months after it had a brick thrown through a window on New Year’s Eve.
Mr Chetal said at the time: “My wife grabbed me and rushed me into one of our rooms and by the time we got round there they were all gone and our window was smashed.”
He has now repeated his calls for more CCTV on White Hart Street at the London Road end. He said he has been trying to get the improvements from the council for last five years.
Mr Chetal added: “People tend to forget the work you do for the community. I have not just raised £12,000 for charity but I did not press charges against the person and started my prison scheme.”
