Port Macquarie apprentice mechanic Bryce Cawley in Taree court after being caught speeding at more than 160km/h

An apprentice mechanic with a history of speeding was caught driving at more than 160km/h on the Mid-North Coast. See what his excuse was this time.

Bryce Cawley was busted speeding at 163km/h – and the court heard he has a history of traffic offending.

A second year apprentice mechanic said he was rushing to get to a TAFE exam when he was clocked speeding at 163km/h in a Ford Fiesta north of Taree.

Bryce Cawley appeared in Taree Local Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to speeding more than 40km/h over the limit on the Pacific Highway.

The 23-year-old was detected at Johns River and his licence was suspended on the spot on September 6.

Cawley told Magistrate Sharon Crews he “didn’t want to be late” while driving to a TAFE exam at Taree in the Ford hatchback.

The 23-year-old is an apprentice with Miedecke Motor Group in Port Macquarie, the court was told.

Bryce Cawley outside Taree Local Court on November 14.

Cawley handed the magistrate a reference from George Miedecke and said his position was “still current”, despite not having his licence.

Ms Crews told Cawley the “moral of the story is you need to plan your day better”.

She said Cawley had lost his licence due to demerit points twice before and “three matters before this are all speeding matters”.

A six-month licence disqualification remains in place, but Ms Crews decreased Cawley’s fine to $400.