A paramedic caught drink-riding an e-scooter while almost twice the limit faces the sack – as a judge warned the vehicles ‘are not toys’.

Samuel Christopher Bradley (30, an ambulance driver) is the sixth person to be disqualified for driving any vehicle in the same number of weeks after being caught drinking or drug-riding an e-scooter.

Judge Adrian Lower condemned those who treat escooters like toys. He said that if an attitude is developed that e-scooters can be ridden only by people who are worse off for drinking, it needs to be corrected.

Bradley was accompanied by a passenger, and he laughed when he told police that he had ‘an absolute run-about” the centre of York when officers tried stop him.  

Emily Calman, Bradley’s solicitor, said that he will likely face a disciplinary hearing. He could also lose his job as he won’t have the ability to drive an ambulance for 16 more months.

She said, “In one foolish moment, he has managed destroy all that.” His ban on driving will have a major impact on the public.

She stated that the ambulance driver, who was a North Yorkshire native, worked during the pandemic.

Ambulance driver Samuel Christopher Bradley, 30, is the sixth in as many weeks to be disqualified from driving any vehicle after they were caught drink riding or drug riding an e-scooter in York. Pictured, York Magistrates' Court

Samuel Christopher Bradley, 30, an ambulance driver, was disqualified from driving any vehicle for six consecutive weeks after they were caught drinking or drug riding an electric scooter in York. Pictured at York Magistrates Court

The district judge told York Magistrates’ Court anyone who worked for the NHS deserved public respect but that made Bradley’s conduct ‘all the more bizarre’.

Bradley was told by he: “I am afraid that you have brought this prohibition upon yourself,”

Bradley, from Heworth, pleaded guilty to drink riding and was banned from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay a total of £580, including a £450 fine, a £45 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

As he was leaving court, he stated that he had agreed with the judge about e-scooters not being toys and that he would never repeat his offence.

He stated that he wouldn’t do it if he had known what he had learned from his arrest.

Mrs Chadwick stated that Bradley was spotted by police on patrol with a passenger on the one-man electric scooter in Parliament Street on Sunday, October 3. 

Bradley dived down New Street as officers approached him. One of the men looked at the police and laughed.

The e-scooter made a left turn into Coney Street, and went the wrong direction down the one-way street.

Officers called in the city’s CCTV operators to track and locate the vehicle. The e-scooter was finally stopped in Parliament Street by police officers.

Mrs Chadwick said police on patrol spotted Bradley with a passenger who was carrying a lager can on the one-man e-scooter in Parliament Street in the evening of Sunday, October 3. Pictured, electric scooters parked in Ealing, London

Mrs Chadwick stated that Bradley was spotted by police on patrol with a passenger on an e-scooter on Parliament Street in the evening on Sunday, October 3. Pictured: Electric scooters parked in Ealing (London).

Mrs Chadwick stated that both the rider (and the passenger) stumbled off the vehicle.

Bradley took a breath test and got a reading of 58 mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is one-half the legal limit.

Ms. Calman stated that he was an intelligent man. He should have known better.

The app that allows you to hire e-scooters offers a series warnings to riders, but the passenger had already hired the vehicle so Bradley didn’t see the warnings.

York’s district judge warned that riding an e-scooter can be as dangerous as driving a car or any other vehicle. 

Bradley was informed by him that he saw other people riding motor cars after drinking and the danger they pose to other people. It is extremely dangerous as you should know.

He explained that e-scooters can be described as motor vehicles similar to cars and motorbikes used on the road. 

Riders are required to have a driver’s license and insurance in order to hire them. It is also forbidden to ride after drinking.

He said at the conclusion of the court case that he only hoped that there would be some good out of it. “Others may be tempted by the idea that they can have a beer and then ride an e-scooter,” he said. They should know what will happen to their e-scooters.

Only e-scooters are legal to ride on roads. Tier hire schemes as part of a Government pilot are the only ones that allow you to hire them.

The scheme has an E-scooter with a notice on its handle advising against drink driving, and its stem announcing that riders must comply with traffic laws.

Privately owned electric scooters cannot be used on the roads.