A man has been handed a driving ban and fine having pleaded guilty to driving an e-scooter in Hitchin, while under the influence of alcohol.

Kyle Pateman, aged 29, of Hine Way, Hitchin, was stopped by officers on St John's Road, having been seen riding an e-scooter at just before 2am on Sunday 4 August.

He was arrested and later charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

Pateman appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on Monday (19 August) where he pleaded guilty to the offences and was banned from driving for 23 months, fined £120, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

North Herts Intervention Sergeant Jordan Quicke, said: "It remains illegal to use e-scooters on roads, pavements and in parks in Hertfordshire, and the only place they can be used is on private land and with the landowner's permission.

"They are also classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act which means legislation relating to drink and drug-driving applies to e-scooters in the same way it does when driving a car."