A 14-year-old boy who repeatedly used an e-scooter on public roads and pavements around Devizes, despite numerous warnings by police, found himself in court last week.

Wiltshire Police hs  issued a stern warning to parents thinking of getting their children an e-scooter for Christmas, after he was fined and issued with six penalty points.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen in the summer riding a black electric scooter in the town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon.

Officers had repeatedly warned him that what he was doing was illegal, but he continuously ignored their warnings.

He appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without insurance.

He was fined £40, his driving record was endorsed with six points and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22. These points will remain on record so if he learns to drive in the future, they will be on his licence.

His mother told the court that they no longer owned the e-scooter so a forfeiture order was not required.

Inspector Al Lumley, from the Devizes Area community policing team, said: “We had made it clear on a number of occasions that this boy was breaking the law by riding this e-scooter in a public place.

"Due to his repeated flouting of the rules and the fact that we believed his behaviour posed a risk to members of the public, particularly pedestrians in the town centre, we pursued prosecution.

“I hope this proves as a stark warning to those who are thinking of buying e-scooters for their children as Christmas presents – please ensure you know the law.”

While e-scooters are legally available to purchase, it’s currently against the law to ride a privately-owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK. This includes roads, pavements, parks, town centres or promenades. The only place a privately-owned e-scooter can be used is on private land.

This is because e-scooters are classified as personal light electric vehicles so they are treated as motor vehicles. As such, if they are used on a road, pavement or public place they are subject to the same legal requirements as any motor vehicle.

Using a ‘motor vehicle’ on a road or other public place without the following could result in:

• Insurance – 6 points, £300 fine, seizure of vehicle

• Licence – penalty points, fine, seizure of vehicle

• Failing to comply with construction & use legislation – ranging from non-endorsable fixed penalty to being reported to court for using in a dangerous condition

• Impaired by alcohol/drugs – licence disqualification, fine or penalty points.