THE driver of an off-road motorbike ended up in a river in the Dales as he tried to get away from police, heard Skipton Magistrates Court.

Officers in a police car started following Martin Brown after seeing him coming towards them on a Husqvarna motorcycle on the B6160 in Kettlewell at just after 4pm on Sunday March 27 with no rear registration plate on his vehicle.

Brown, 54, who had come to the area from Essex to join an off road biking session, had 'jumped the gun' because he had not passed both parts of his motorcycle test, the court heard on Friday.

The officers turned round, put the vehicle lights on, and tried to catch up with Brown who was with another motorcycle rider, also with no rear plate.

But, instead of stopping, the two motorcyclists increased their speed.

Brown took a right turn towards Arncliffe and was followed by the police car. Nadine Clough, prosecuting, said the officers described how Brown had 'narrowly missed' oncoming traffic.

He took a right turn onto a lane and continued onto a footpath at which point the officers were forced to get out of their vehicle and gave chase on foot. Brown eventually stopped when he fell off the bike as he tried to cross a river, said Ms Clough.

Brown, of Parkfields, Roydon, Harlow, Essex, who runs a contract painting business, admitted failing to stop for a police officer, and driving without due care and attention. He also admitted driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without third party insurance.

Mitigating, Mr Davies, said Brown had taken up off road biking as a hobby during the coronavirus lock-downs. He had passed Module one at the time of the incident in Kettlewell, but not Module two, which he passed two weeks later.

He had taken out an insurance policy for the bike, but it had been invalid as he had not a full licence at the time. Mr Davies went on to say that Brown accepted what the police had said, but not that he had narrowly missed other vehicles.

"The road was very narrow and he had passed other vehicles that had pulled over into passing places, they were stationary at the time," he said.

Brown had become separated from the others in the off road event, because they were 'more experienced' and had made the decision to ride the motorcycle back to where he had left his van.

"He says he panicked, fell off the motorcycle in a river and found himself wet and having the officers picking him out," said Mr Davies.

He then spent about five hours in custody as the officers suspected he had stolen the bike.

"He jumped the gun by riding the bike before he should have done and making the mistake not to stop for the police officers," added Mr Davies.

For driving without insurance, his licence was endorsed with six penalty points. It was also endorsed for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and for driving without due care and attention. He was also fined £816 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £82. There were no separate penalties for the other offences.