Manchester United star Marcus Rashford's excuse for speeding at 104mph on M60 to OVERTAKE an unmarked police car - before officer told him to 'call 999'

Marcus Rashford has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding at more than 100mph on the M60, telling a court he thought he was being followed when he overtook an unmarked police car.

The Manchester United striker, 26, was at the wheel of his Rolls-Royce Cullinan Blue Shadow when it overtook an unmarked police patrol car on the clockwise stretch of the motorway at 31 minutes past midnight on Tuesday December 12 last year, court documents show.

The detective constable aboard the unliveried police BMW X5 had to speed up to attempt to catch up with Rashford's car and the patrol car was travelling at speeds of 'no less than 104mph' during 1,600 metre stretch of the motorway. But the officer reported the gap between the two cars still increased and the Rolls-Royce moved further away, the court was told.

READ NEXT: Kyle Walker 'relieved' while Lauryn Goodman breaks silence with subtle dig after court showdown

Rashford exited the motorway at junction 3 onto the A34 towards Wilmslow and the detective constable continued to follow the Rolls-Royce.

The officer conducted checks over the police radio and spotted 'a change in the defendant's driving' with the car slowing down, coming off and then re-joining the A34, the court was told.

The Rolls-Royce stopped and the officer activated his emergency 'blues and twos' equipment at the Eden Park Road roundabout of the A34 before speaking to Rashford who confirmed his name and date of birth.

Rashford told the officer he thought he was being followed 'by a white vehicle at the lights'. When the officer said he should have called the police if he suspected he was being followed, he reported that Rashford told him 'it happens all the time and he would be calling