A UNIVERSITY student sped away from police, reaching speeds of 70mph in a 30 zone, and driving on the opposite side of the road, while already disqualified from driving.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Sameer Choudhry, from Oldham, had been driving a stolen car in Manchester when he tried to flee from officers who had attempted to stop him.

However, the 22-year-old told the court that his dangerous driving was due to a "medical emergency", owing to problems with his heart, and claimed he did not know the car was stolen.

Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, told the court that shortly before 1am on February 16 police had been on patrol in Droylsden Road, Manchester, when they came across a red Ford Kuga which had been stolen a week earlier.

They then followed the car, being driven by Choudhry, as it turned right into Oldham Road and alerted another patrol near to the McDonald's restaurant in Failsworth.

After failing to stop when flagged down by the officers, Choudhry tried to escape, fleeing towards Oldham at speeds of up to 70 mph on the road which has a 30mph limit, Mr Mackintosh said.

During the pursuit, Choudhry was also said to have driven straight across a junction, through a red light and, in Ashton Road, crossed over onto the opposite carriageway to overtake cars.

Eventually a stinger burst one of the Ford Kuga's tyres and Choudhry and his two passengers were arrested.

At the police station, Choudhry told officers that he had bought the car for £3,500 from a man he had met up with, and denied knowing that it was stolen, Mr Mackintosh said.

He was also found to not have insurance and to have been disqualified from driving at the time.

Choudhary told the court: "The car was bought for my family. I purchased it alongside my brother."

"We did a HPI [vehicle history] check, which came back as clear, so we were not to know it was stolen," he added.

In mitigation, the 22-year-old who is a student a Wolverhampton University, further said that his driving was due to a medical emergency owing to pains he gets in his heart.

The people in the car when he was arrested were neighbours of his, and had been helping him with the situation at the time, he continued.

However the court heard that Choudhry did not go to the hospital after being released from police questioning.

At an earlier Magistrates' Court hearing, Choudhry, of Lacrosse Avenue, Oldham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified.

The case has now been adjourned until May 7 when a Trial of Issue will take place to hear evidence at about Choudhry's alleged medical emergency.

Judge Bernard Lever described Choudhry as a "highly educated person" who has achieved "very good exam results" during his university studies.

"You are perfectly entitled to have your say on this illness," he added.

Choudhry was remanded in custody until the resumption of proceedings next month.