A LABOURER who took a mobile phone call telling him his mother was in hospital while he was driving on the motorway ended up in court after he was spotted by police.

Graham Mark Robinson, 34, from Rossendale, didn't realise that the driver behind in an unmarked car happened to be a police inspector, a court was told.

A labourer and driver Robinson, of Oaklands Road, Edenfield, admitted he drove without due care and attention on the M62, when he appeared before Rochdale magistrates.

Magistrates decided to fine him just £100 with £42 costs and five penalty points because he was a man of previous good character who drove extensively around the country from building site to building site.

Mr Mark Humphreys, prosecuting, said a police inspector driving along the M62 in an unmarked car noticed Robinson speaking into a mobile phone while travelling in the second lane at around 70 to 75mph.

Mr Humphreys said because of the telephone manoeuvre Robinson could not have his attention totally on his circumstances and his van appeared to wander between two lanes and close right up on a goods vehicle ahead of him.

Father-of-two Robinson told the court his 65-year-old mother had been unwell and had gone into hospital in an emergency and as he had to travel to work in Birmingham he told his father to contact him with any news.

Normally he would have his mobile switched off in the car but he wanted to be informed and the call was quick. His mother had had an operation for gall stones. However, he accepted it was not a legitimate reason for using a mobile while driving a car.