A TEENAGER is thought to have become the first person in Oxfordshire to have been fined for using a mobile phone while riding a scooter.

Stephen Wilkes, 17, was caught by police after they saw him texting his mother while riding his 50cc Sym Jet scooter. He was given a £60 fine and three penalty points under the new law.

Wilkes, of Moorland Road, Witney, was riding with a provisional licence, which has been temporarily confiscated.

He admitted using a phone while riding was a "stupid" thing to do, even though he was travelling at 15mph.

The teenager was going from Carterton, where he had been refereeing a match involving the town's under-13s, when he was pulled over, in Minster Road, Brize Norton, on Saturday afternoon.

Because he was running late, he was texting his mother, Mary Wilkes, with the message "Gna b a while" - text shorthand for "going to be a while".

He said: "I was texting my mum, telling her I was on my way home, and that I would be late as my bike was running slow, because of engine trouble.

"I was looking down and didn't see the two policemen standing by the road. They took me into their car and told me I was stupid."

Wilkes, who works in Witney as an office temp, added: "I accept I was in the wrong, and it was stupid.

"It's dangerous. I can't have been concentrating as I didn't even see the policemen. I obviously shouldn't have done it, and won't do it again. I've learned my lesson."

And his advice to others?

"Keep your phone in your pocket!"

Mrs Wilkes said: "I think he was silly. I've never known anybody try to make a call while riding a moped.

"I have told him how dangerous it was. The consequences could have been terrible.

"He could have been knocked off or even killed. I had assumed he'd stopped to use his phone.

"It was stupid and he deserved to get into trouble, but hopefully he'll learn from it - and others too.

"I support the tough new laws. It's about time they cracked down on it, although I still see people using their mobiles while driving."

Police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said Wilkes was thought to be the first motorcyclist to be fined in Oxfordshire for using a mobile while riding.

She said: "This is an illustration of an inexperienced rider taking a foolish and unnecessary risk with both his own and the lives of other road users.

"It is very fortunate that on this occasion he did not become another statistic on our roads in Oxfordshire.

"He will be offered an opportunity to attend a Call Divert workshop instead of being fined and getting points on his licence.

"We hope by offering this workshop, we will change drivers' attitudes and make the roads safer by offering education as an alternative to punishment.

"I hope the fact that he has come forward to talk about the incident will stop others from making the same mistake."