AN ELDERLY diabetic man claimed he was on his way to hospital when he was caught speeding and driving without insurance, a court has heard.

AN ELDERLY diabetic man claimed he was on his way to hospital when he was caught speeding and driving without insurance, a court has heard.

John Wingard, of Shelley Close in Stowmarket, was banned from driving for six months at South East Magistrates' Court in Ipswich.

The HGV driver told magistrates he was on-route to the hospital when he was pulled over by police in Claydon on June 11, 2008.

He said as a result of being diabetic he had been in urgent need of visiting the toilet which was why he had been driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone. It was found Wingard was also driving without third party insurance.

The 62-year-old said he had informed the police he was insured because he believed he had insurance for two vehicles.

He told magistrates he feared he would lose his income if he lost his licence after his employers had indicated his job would be at risk.

But he admitted his wife had a job and her income could just cover the mortgage on the couple's home.

Chair of the magistrates bench Elizabeth Brown said the potential for Wingard's loss of job did not constitute sufficient grounds to rule out disqualification.

Wingard was also ordered to pay �643 fine and costs to the court.