A Ferrari driver caught speeding at 117mph claimed he was rushing home as he was desperate for the loo.

Daniel Hodges, 39, was pulled over in his powerful sports car after police spotted him hurtling along the M20 in Ashford.

The roofer, of Barrow Hill, Sellindge, told officers he had accelerated to almost 50mph above the legal limit because he’d had the sudden urge to go to the toilet.

Folkestone Magistrates' Court heard he was travelling home after enjoying Sunday lunch at a restaurant with his partner when he was stopped at 4pm on August 21 last year.

His lawyer told the bench Hodges’ urge to use the loo had been brought on by surgery he had undergone two weeks before.

He claimed the defendant had waited until leaving the 50mph zone designated by Operation Brock to put his foot down.

He also said Hodges no longer owns the Ferrari, removing the temptation to speed again in the future.

But magistrates had little sympathy for the motorist, who was banned from driving for 56 days after pleading guilty to exceeding the 70mph limit.

Before delivering the sentence, the chairman of the bench said: “That speed at that time of day is not acceptable. Words fail me.”

Hodges, who had three penalty points on his licence, was also fined £461 and ordered to pay a £184 court surcharge and £90 costs.