A MOTORIST has been banned after driving while drunk on a 15mph children's motorbike.

Warren Bradshaw, 24, of Gannow Lane, Burnley, did not think he was doing anything wrong when he set off on the mini bike at 1am on April 1, the town's magistrates heard.

But the petrol-powered "toy" required a licence and MOT to be driven on the roads as it was subject to the same traffic laws as a car.

Sophie Lorimer, prosecuting, told the court Bradshaw sped past police on the bike and almost hit the front of their patrol car.

They followed him as he went sharply around a bend and sped across a junction, causing another vehicle to brake to avoid a crash, the court heard.

Mrs Lorimer said officers tried to stop Bradshaw and he then abandoned the bike and ran up a path and was detained.

Bradshaw was then said to have behaved badly at the police station, being aggressive, swearing in answer to questions, and refusing to give a breath test, the court was told.

Mrs Lorimer said Bradshaw's conduct at the station was "nothing short of disgraceful" as he had to be physically restrained and wouldn't answer questions.

He admitted failing to provide a specimen, driving without due care and attention, resisting police and having no licence, no MOT and failing to stop.

Bradshaw, who has a previous drink-drive conviction, was given a 12-month community order with supervision and 100 hours unpaid work. He was told to pay £75 costs.

Mark Williams, defending, said the machine was virtually a child's toy and the top speed was 15mph which was not designed for use on the road.

Bradshaw had been drinking with friends and accepted he would have been over the limit, Mr Williams said. He added that Bradshaw accepted his behaviour at the police station was wholly inappropriate.

Mr Williams said: "When he went off on the bike he didn't give a second thought to the fact he was committing an offence."

After the case, Insp Martin Hall, of Burnley police, said: "We would welcome any sentence such as this one which sends out the message that drinking and driving is not acceptable and we would like to see uniformity in sentences for these offences imposed by the courts."