A MAN has been banned from driving after police caught him doing 20mph on a motorised skateboard - in the first case of its kind in the country.

Magistrates heard how Kevin Starkey, 26, of Cemetery Road, Darwen, had to accept the skateboard was a motor vehicle in the eyes of the law, and pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.

He was given six penalty points, taking the total on his licence to 12, and the court banned him for six months under the totting up procedure.

The Blackburn court heard how the DVLA made inquiries and believed the case was the first of its kind.

Police today said it was common sense' that a motorised skateboard was not meant for a public road.

Speaking after the hearing Starkey said he had paid £650 for the toy' three years ago and police had seen him using it on numerous occasions.

He said: "Nobody has ever spoken to me and warned me about riding it, never mind prosecute me.

"I can't believe I am now banned from driving my car because of riding a skateboard, it seems stupid."

The court was told that the officer who stopped him in Robin Bank Road, Darwen, at 4.40pm on July 12 said he was doing between 15 and 20mph.

But Roger Pickles, defending, said he could easily have reached the same speed downhill on an ordinary skateboard, when he would not have been committing any offence.

He added: "It is purely the fact that it had this petrol motor on the back that causes the problem.

"I very much doubt whether any insurance company would give cover for this vehicle."

He said it certainly couldn't be registered with the DVLA, which would lead to it needing road tax and MOT.

The ban won't affect Starkey's job with his family firm.

Motorised skateboards can be bought at shops including motorsports outlets, and usually come fitted with a hand brake and trigger-style' throttle, to be held in a hand for control as the user is propelled along.

According to the Department of Transport, anything with an engine needs to comply with the regulations for motor vehicles.

A spokesman said: "If it has an engine it's classed as a motor vehicle and can only be driven on the roads, and needs to comply with the regulations for instance for lighting, safety and tax that you would do for any motor vehicle.

"If it's a motor vehicle you couldn't drive it on the pavement.

"You can use them on private land but we would advise people to take due precautions when using anything motorised as you can travel at a speed."

Sergeant Stuart Isherwood, of the road policing unit based in Accrington, said he had never heard of such a case in the past.

He said: "Anything with a motor that has got wheels can be classed as a motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Act.

"As such, owners must have all the relevant documents including licence and insurance."

He added: "It's got to have the capability of getting some sort of speed up to be classed as a motor vehicle.

"Clearly it's just common sense that it isn't meant to be used on the road."