A BMW driver who reached 166 mph on the M65 motorway admitted he was angry with another motorist.

Blackburn magistrates heard that on the 5.6 miles stretch between Junction 4 and Junction 2 Mohammed Khawaja averaged 147.65 mph.

The police officer who eventually pulled him over said initially he appeared to be racing with an Audi.

Khawaja, 33, of Somerset Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was made subject to a 12-month community order with 200 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 12 months. He must pass an extended re-test before driving again.

Passing sentence District Judge Alex Boyd said driving at more than double the speed limit on the motorway was “incredibly dangerous.”

“At that speed you can’t control your car and you could have killed yourself or somebody else,” he said.

Helen Porter, who delivered a pre-sentence report for the probation service, said Khawaja described the incident as a moment of madness after the red mist came down.

“He says he was travelling home from the gym when an Audi came up behind him flashing his lights,” said Mrs Porter.

“He let it pass but then became angry and started speeding himself. He said he didn’t have any idea of what he was going to do.”

Sameena Chaudhry, prosecuting, said the driving incident started at Junction 4.

Having hit 166mph he reduced his speed to 100mph as matrix boards announced road works ahead. He slowed to 50mph as he exited at Junction 2 and was then stopped by police.

Miss Chaudhry said the speed data had been downloaded from the defendant’s vehicle, a BMW M140i.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client was a delivery driver for Amazon and the inevitable ban would have a catastrophic impact on his life.

“I have had to explain to him that he has to be disqualified and there is no discretion,” said Mr Bakhat.