Sytner Group says it acted promptly and appropriately when it was alerted by a customer that service staff had taken his car on a 10-minute drive, repeatedly breaking the speed limit.

Chauffeur David Argust took his E300 AMG to Sytner Mercedes Bristol for a warranty repair on a wheel sensor, reports the Bristol Post.

He discovered from his dash camera footage that a mechanic and apprentice had driven the car to a nearby supermarket, breaking the speed limit nine times during the 10-minute journey.

He posted the dashcam footage on YouTube (see below).

Argust told the Bristol Post: "I pride myself in having a clean license, both as a driver and a chauffeur. I've done this job for 11 years, and I could have lost my licence if he was caught.”

But in a statement to AM, Sytner said: “As soon as we found out about this incident, we sincerely apologised to Mr Argust and subsequently offered him a goodwill payment which was declined.  

“As a company we do not tolerate this type of behaviour and we can confirm that the employee concerned no longer works for us.”

The Bristol Post also quotes a letter from Nick Robinson, franchise manager at Sytner Group, touching on an appointment Argust had made at another Sytner centre.

In the letter, he wrote: "Following the release of your videos and recent post on Instagram I believe it is inappropriate for us to continue with your planned visit to Mercedes-Benz of Weston-super-Mare on the 4th April.

"These actions demonstrate a complete breakdown in relationship, and in conflict with any future positive business relationship we had hoped to restore.

"We will not accede to further demands and I find it extremely disappointing that despite our efforts we have been unable to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.

"I must now consider your actions a rejection of all previous offers and they are therefore retracted."

The incident has also been reported in the national press.

> Video: Argust's dashcam footage