FORMER Weymouth FC manager Steve Claridge drove at speeds of around 100mph in treacherous conditions because he was desperate for the toilet, a court heard.

Claridge, 42, appeared at Coventry Crown Court to deny a charge of dangerous driving, which relates to an incident on the M42 motorway on December 30, 2006.

He was pulled over by an unmarked police car on the southbound carriageway after repeatedly undertaking other vehicles in his Peugeot 307, the court heard.

Nigel Wilkins, prosecuting, described to the jury how football pundit Claridge drove at high speed on wet roads, repeatedly switching lanes and causing other drivers to "brake sharply in order to let him in."

PC Geoff Bell, one of the two uniformed officers to pull Claridge over, told the court he noticed Claridge coming up behind him.

He added: "He would have been travelling at approximately 100mph in order to catch up with us quite quickly."

The court heard that Claridge, of Fareham, Hampshire, was at one point "straddling" two lanes as he attempted to move from the middle lane into the fast lane.

PC Bell said he illegally overtook three cars on the nearside, including the unmarked police car.

PC Keith Dyson said: ''As I started speaking to him he started jumping up and down on the hard shoulder, holding his crotch and acting like a child who is desperate to go to the toilet.

''He indicated that he was desperate for the toilet and was trying to find the services.'' He added: ''He continued to jump up and down in what I deemed to be an embarrassing action.'' The officer allowed Claridge to relieve himself.

Claridge denied driving dangerously, telling the court: "It certainly wasn't dangerous. It wasn't the best bit of driving I have ever done but it wasn't dangerous.'' He refuted the allegation that his speed had reached 100mph.

He added: ''I did not straddle any lane,'' and denied trying to rejoin the fast lane after undertaking the police car.

His need to use the toilet had come on suddenly, he said, and he was trying to leave the motorway.

He said: "I went up behind it (the police car) and I realised that there were services ahead so I pulled into the middle lane.'' He admitted overtaking two cars on the nearside while he was driving in the middle lane but said he was "stunned" when police told him he could be prosecuted.

Claridge had been driving home from Blackpool after compiling a scouting report, he told the court.

He added: "I have been in football for a while and have been trying to do a bit of commentary and that.

''I was having a tough time with football, trying to get a foothold and combine the two jobs.

''At the time I was on a one-month contract (with Bournemouth) but I had only played one game.'' The trial is continuing.