MOTORIST Joseph Windall had ten penalty points stamped on his driving licence after being spotted driving along a motorway with his hands behind his head.

Windall, 49, of The Croft, Marlow, appeared at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Monday charged with dangerous driving, careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.

The charge of dangerous driving was dropped, but Windall pleaded guilty to the other charges.

Andy Callander, prosecuting, said a witness saw Windall driving along the M25, near the M40 junction, on May 23 this year, without any hands on the steering wheel.

He said: 'She (the witness) was aware of an Audi driving behind her and she saw the driver of the car and said his driving was very erratic. She said she thought the person was tired or drunk and kept taking his hands off the steering wheel and putting them behind his head.'

Mr Callander told the court how Windall bumped into the witness's car before driving on ahead of her and weaving from lane to lane.

As the witness contacted police to warn them, Windall smashed into the back of her car for a second time.

Mr Callander explained: 'She heard smashing glass while she was still on the phone to the police.'

The court heard the victim pulled on to the hard shoulder before inspecting the damage and calling the police again.

Other witnesses said they spotted Windall with his hands raised above his head as he drove along the motorway, the court heard.

Christopher Thompson, defending, said Windall pulled over to the hard shoulder after the second collision but did not see the other driver at the side of the motorway.

Mr Thompson said Windall, a self-employed salesman, left the scene after waiting on the hard shoulder for a few minutes before driving home to Marlow.

Police picked him up only one-and-a-quarter hours after the crash and arrested him.

Magistrate Thelma Taylor ordered Windall to pay a fine of £580 and pay costs of £55. He also had his driving licence endorsed with ten penalty points.