A 21-year-old has been banned from driving for two years after drunkenly riding an electric scooter without insurance.

Taylor Daly, of King Charles Avenue in Ramsgate, was caught riding past a police station while almost three times the drink-drive limit.

At Margate Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to using an escooter without insurance, driving an escooter after consuming excess alcohol, and being drunk and disorderly.

Ms Moyo, prosecuting, told how Daly had verbally abused police officers during an incident at about 10.30pm on June 7.

She said: "At this incident, another person had been arrested and Mr Daly was present and continually gave officers present verbal abuse.

"All this conduct was captured on bodyworn video."

About an hour later, at 11.30pm, Daly was stopped by police officers outside Margate police station, while he was riding an electric scooter.

The prosecutor added: "He was approached by police officers for an offence committed earlier.

"They noticed that he appeared drunk, had slurred speech, and he was later arrested for driving whilst unfit through drink and driving without third-party insurance."

Daly was taken into custody, where he was found to be significantly over the drink-drive limit.

The legal limit is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, but Daly measured nearly three times this, at 96mg.

He admitted to driving without insurance, stating that he was "unaware of the legislation surrounding this" in relation to escooters.

He did not provide an account for his disorderly behaviour.

It is illegal to ride electric scooters in public spaces, unless they are hired as part of government trials that are currently in operation in towns and cities such as Canterbury.

Roger Davis, defending, told how Daly is unemployed and had been "at a bit of a loose end", when he decided to ride his friend's escooter on June 7.

He said Daly had not been aware of the laws surrounding escooter riding.

"He gets on it and out of pure ignorance rides it a short distance and is stopped," he said.

On Tuesday, magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, which requires Daly to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Daly, who holds a provisional driver's license, was also disqualified from driving a vehicle for 24-months.

Magistrates explained that 181 days will be knocked off this ban, if he successfully completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course by a date in November next year.

He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and costs of £85.

Daly had also previously charged with driving whilst unfit through drink, in relation to the events of June 7, but this offence was later withdrawn.

Escooters have proved a controversial addition to Canterbury city centre, see how our KentOnline reporter Lydia Chantler-Hicks gone on when she went out on one.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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