A MAN who put his foot down and reached speeds of 107mph on the motorway claimed in court that he wanted to get off the motorway because his wife, who had a heart condition, was hyperventilating.

Mujahid Awan, aged 32, told magistrates that his wife was in a state of panic and he wanted to get treatment for her.

Awan, who admitted exceeding the 70mph speed limit on the M62 at Rochdale, told the bench: "I knew I was speeding but my wife was under stress."

Asked by Miss Marion Nolan, prosecuting, why he did not inform the police officer who stopped him abut his wife, Awan, a technician, of Bury New Road, Whitefield, said: "She was stressed out and I just wanted to deal with things quietly."

Because of the speed he was driving, the magistrates warned that they had to consider disqualification. Awan had already received six penalty points on his licence in February for a conviction for careless driving.

Awan said his job could be on the line if he were disqualified.

The case at Rochdale was adjourned until November 13 so Awan could obtain a letter from his employer to prove that his employment might be a risk and he was also advised to furnish a letter from his doctor confirming his wife's condition.