A BANNED driver was stopped by police while riding an electric scooter and found with cannabis.

Ryan Daly was brought before a court after he was stopped riding the e-scooter near Tesco in Barrow.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard the 22-year-old was not aware a driving licence was needed while riding the e-scooter.

He was said to have been using the scooter to get around having been banned from driving earlier this year for drug driving.

Police also found a quantity of cannabis on him when they stopped him while he was riding on the pavement near Hindpool Retail Park.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told the court: "He was disqualified by the court on February 13.

"On July 4 he was seen riding on the roadside and into the entrance of the retail park.

"These vehicles are not road legal.

"On that basis the defendant was not in possession of valid insurance."

In mitigation, Trystan Roberts said Daly did not know he was breaking the law.

"It's another one of these offences of this type and many people don't realise they are classified as a vehicle," he said.

"He has taken to driving it since his disqualification.

"He was going to the shop and he thought he was entitled to do that.

"He's accepted his wrongdoing and entered his guilty plea at the first opportunity.

"These are unusual circumstances.

"It's out of ignorance."

Mr Roberts said Daly had broken his wrist riding his bicycle, which he had advised the defendant was 'probably a better form of transport'.

The court heard Daly's driving ban would run out in June 2022.

When asked by the judge if he had anything to say regarding extending the ban, Mr Roberts said: "Please don't, sir."

District Judge John Temperley told the defendant: "I've taken note of the type of vehicle involved.

"On this occasion I will make the sentence more lenient that I would have done if you were in a car or another motorised vehicle."

Daly, of Barrow's Delhi Street, was fined £120 for driving while disqualified and banned from the road for six months.

He was fined £80 for driving without insurance and £50 for possessing cannabis.

Daly was previously banned for 16 months for driving with cannabis in his system on Roose Road.

He was fined £120 for the offence.

Cumbria Police have previously warned people about law around e-scooters.

A spokesperson said: "Officers from the force’s roads policing unit are urging people to fully understand the law before buying or riding an e-scooter.

"E-scooters are illegal to use on roads, footpaths, cycle tracks/lanes, bridleways, or byways. The only legal place these privately purchased scooters can be ridden are on private land with the owner's consent.

"E-scooters are classed as a powered transporter and come under the same legislation as motor vehicles, therefore you need a licence and insurance to ride them.

"They also need to be registered to be ridden on the road."