STUDENT Steve Lucas found himself thrust into the media spotlight last week after revealing the novel technique he used to prove his car could not reach the 115mph speed claimed by police.

Steve was stunned when traffic officers on the M62 in West Yorkshire accused him of clocking the speed in his modest Fiat Punto car.

The 20-year-old, from Sandy Lane, Moss Bank, admitted he had been doing 85mph, but said there was no way his car could clock such a speed.

Faced with charges that could incur a driving ban, he enlisted the help of St Helens-based Stephenson's Solicitors and an independent traffic consultant.

The motoring expert took the 1.2litre Punto down to the same private racecourse in Leicestershire used to test drive cars on BBC's Top Gear show, and stretched the car to its limits.

Tests proved the car could not get beyond 104mph and when Steve's legal team presented the evidence at Pontefract Magistrates court, they demonstrated the allegations were unfounded.

Charges against Steve of driving without due care and attention were dropped. If the 115mph claims had not been disproved he could have been hit with a £2,500 fine and six-month driving ban.

Steve instead pleaded guilty to speeding on the basis he was only doing 85mph. He was fined £40, ordered to pay £60 costs and given three points on his licence.

Steve, a former law student who is hoping to return to his studies, saw his 'test case' - which actually took place in May - make its way into the bulk of the national papers.

His solicitor Sean Joyce said the case should encourage more drivers who feel they have been wrongly accused to challenge police.