A DRIVER has been disqualified after reaching speeds of 130mph on the A120.

Andrew Howie, 35, of Stone Lane, Tiptree, had dropped his brother off at Stansted Airport on May 27 when he was on his way home at 4am.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday he was seen travelling more than double the speed limit on the 60mph A120 in Braintree.

When officers pulled him over he was caught with a takeaway cup of tea between his legs.

Howie admitted driving without due care and attention and said he knew he would be disqualified.

He said the takeaway cup only had a small amount of tea left and he had drunk the majority in a McDonald’s car park, where he had bought it and a snack before heading home.

He also said he was surprised his mother’s brand new Mercedes Benz E-Class, which he was driving, had no cup holders in it.

Howie apologised for the offence and said he was a “good person”.

The court heard Howie already had nine points on his licence.

On two occasions he was caught using a mobile while driving and a third offence was also for speeding.

Magistrates fined Howie £1,000 and endorsed his licence with seven points, disqualifying him from driving for six months.

They ordered him to pay £90 costs and a £100 surcharge.