A teenage girl from Letchworth has been found guilty of causing serious injury by careless driving following an e-scooter collision in Letchworth.

The teenager, then aged 16, was riding her e-scooter outside Letchworth Railway Station on January 7 this year when she attempted to cross the road on a red pedestrian light.

She collided with a motorbike, the rider of which suffered injuries described as "potentially lifechanging" by a Hertfordshire police spokesperson.

Appearing at Stevenage Youth Court last Thursday (February 22), the girl was found guilty of causing serious injury by careless driving. She will return to court for sentencing in April.

DC Ellie Cowling, from Hertfordshire police, said: “This was a devastating incident, not just for the victim, but also because a teenager has had to appear in court and has ended up with a criminal record.

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“I am sure many parents may be buying these scooters for their children thinking they are harmless fun, but as this case demonstrates they can be extremely dangerous, with devastating consequences.”

It is illegal to ride electric scooters in public places and they cannot be insured. They can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.

“Please think very carefully before you purchase one of these scooters,” continued DC Cowling. “At this current time there are very few places you can legally ride one and we will seize e-scooters being used in public areas and prosecute riders where appropriate.

“We have been engaging with the retailers that sell these machines, to advise them to remind any purchasers that they cannot use an e-scooter on a public road.”