When Alex Ferguson was caught driving on the hard shoulder of the M602 in February 1999, his defence in court was perhaps a tad more embarrassing than if he had just taken a fine and penalty points - he had to get to the toilet! The Manchester United manager was suffering from acute gastroenteritis which caused severe diarrhoea and as his doctor explained in court when he was stuck in a traffic jam and had an urgent need to visit a toilet he had one of two choices - 'One is unthinkable and one is to take evasive action'. He added 'It's not easy for someone in his position to come into court and, with respect, explain his toilet difficulties on that day.' Very true, but it makes a great story. Bury Magistrates found him not guilty.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been found not guilty of illegally driving on a motorway hard shoulder after he told a court he was rushing to get to a lavatory. Magistrates agreed with the Manchester United manager's defence that it was an "emergency," and they cleared the 57-year-old.
Bury Magistrates Court had been told that Sir Alex was suffering from severe diarrhoea when the incident took place on 26th February on the M602, in Eccles, Greater Manchester. He said his symptoms had begun at home the previous day. He had been to see the club doctor, Mike Stone, the following morning at Old Trafford, and felt much better after taking Imodium tablets. But on his journey home, he was struck by stomach cramps and the urgent need to visit the lavatory. The M602 at Eccles was congested, he told the court and to avoid queuing, he drove his BMW onto the hard shoulder. He was followed by a police vehicle, stopped and cautioned. He told the court that he was too embarrassed to explain his predicament to the police officer. Sir Alex told the court.
"When I got into the snarl-up of traffic, I started to feel cramps again. I took another [Imodium] tablet. I stayed there for about four or five minutes. I then decided to try and get back to Old Trafford." Nicholas Freeman, defending, said: "Putting it bluntly, did you need to go to the toilet?" Sir Alex said: "That was very much the case. I had to go somewhere quickly." After giving his details to the police, Sir Alex returned to Old Trafford to use its facilities. "I was in a rush," he told the court. In a statement to the court, Dr Stone said: "I saw Sir Alex at 9am on 26 February when he complained of suffering from severe diarrhoea.
"I examined him and diagnosed acute gastroenteritis." Mr Freeman said, "his client had had two options while in the traffic jam. One is unthinkable and one is to take evasive action." "It's not easy for someone in his position to come into court and, with respect, explain his toilet difficulties on that day," he added.
Outside court Sir Alex signed autographs for fans before leaving in a chauffeur-driven car without making a comment. Though he looked as if he had "got away with it!!"
Later in 1999 one of Ferguson's players, David Beckham, won an appeal against an eight month driving ban after being found guilty of driving his Ferrari - sorry, as every proper journalist would say - driving his £150,000 Ferrari at 76mph in a 50 mph zone. He explained to the court that he was trying to escape a paparazzi photographer who had been chasing him for 10 miles. 'The man was leaning over taking photos. He was definitely not in control of the car and he nearly caused me to crash. I thought if I didn't put my foot down it would cause an accident' he explained in court. Those 'special circumstances' saw him escape the ban although his conviction for speeding stood. His lawyer was quick thinking!
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