Police officers clocked Michael Russell (50), of New Bridge Road, Wisbech, travelling at more than 30mph faster than the speed limit on the A47, on Sunday, June 15.

Peterborough Magistrates' Court heard Russell was driving his Mercedes E220 along the road towards Thorney Toll, when officers spotted the car speeding.

They followed Russell for a short time, and the speedometer in the police car showed the average speed of the car was between 100 and 105 miles per hour.

But rather than disqualify the farmer from driving – the normal punishment for motorists caught breaking the 100mph barrier – District Judge Ken Sheraton decided to give Russell a more lenient penalty, after hearing about his job.

Russell told the court he runs a 100-acre farm with his 79-year-old father and along with harvesting the land, he also looks after 25 cows and 600 pigs.

He explained the pigs needed cleaning, feeding and general care every day of the year and no one else was able to do the physically tough work of looking after the animals. Russell also explained the farm was more than three miles away from his house, and there was no way of getting to the farm other than by car.

This would mean there would be no way he would be able to complete the harvest at the farm, expected to take place in the next few weeks, if he was banned from driving.

He also said there was no other traffic on the road at the time, and the driving conditions were good.

District Judge Sheraton fined Russell £150, ordered him to pay costs of £35 and the victim surcharge of £15.

He also added six points on to the farmer's driving licence and told him: "This is a serious offence, and you have come pretty close to disqualification today."