A man drove 60 miles after a collision on a motorway left his car severely damaged because he was trying to get to his destination in time for Shabbat.

Jehoshua Gross, 27, of Darenth Road in Stamford Hill, London, was banned from driving for 15 months and fined £415 after pleading guilty at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court to driving a vehicle dangerously.

The car, which was seriously damaged after the collision on the M56, has been taken away from Mr Gross, who will have to undergo an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel again.

Mr Gross was arrested on July 29, having driven for at least 60 miles to Llandudno in north Wales after the collision. He was reported to the police by a fellow motorist.

In court, his defence lawyer explained Mr Gross had been eager to end his journey before Shabbat came in.

PC Scott Martin, of the Roads Policing Unit, who was the investigating officer, criticised Mr Gross for driving his car on “extremely busy motorways and dual carriageways, as well as through a residential area and town centre, in such a dangerous condition”.

The officer said Mr Gross’s actions “fell far below what is expected of a careful and competent driver”.