Police caught a teenage boy riding a dangerous and illegal electric bike.

The e-bike’s motor was 1,500 watts – well above the 250-watt limit – and had a maximum speed of 42mph, which also broke the law, as well as dangerous wiring to the battery and no rear brake.

To add to these safety hazards, the 14-year-old rider was also not wearing a helmet.

Officers seized the bike and reported the youth for road traffic offences.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “Whilst electric bikes have been around for several years, please be aware that there are legal restrictions on the power, max speed and how they can be operated.

“In simple terms, an electric bike needs to be pedal assisted – essentially, you must pedal to make it move unless it meets specific requirements.

“The illegal upgrades we are regularly seeing have a throttle or just a button to propel the bike forward without pedalling.

“This makes it a motor vehicle, requiring it to be registered, insured and taxed.

“Under UK law, e-bikes are restricted to a 250-watt motor which mustn’t be able to provide electric assistance after 15.5mph.

“Despite this, we’re seeing much more powerful motors attached than this, up to 1,500 watts.

If you are considering upgrading your bike with a motor, ask yourself, 'Can it be propelled without pedalling - and if pedalled, is the motor more powerful than 250 watts, and does it do more than 15.5mph?

“If the answer is yes to the above questions, it will most likely be illegal and can’t be used on the road or in public spaces.

“We don’t want parents and other people wasting money on these illegal bike upgrades only for them to get seized."

E-bikes like the one seized will need to be registered, insured and taxed as a motor vehicle. The rider will need an appropriate driving licence and will have to wear an approved motorcycle safety helmet.

Such vehicles might need to be type - or individually - approved before they can be registered.

An electrically assisted pedal cycle that cannot be propelled without pedalling, has a motor less powerful than 250 watts, and reaches speeds above 15mph is not considered a motor vehicle and as a result, it is not required to be registered or subject to vehicle excise duty (road tax), and does not have to be insured as a motor vehicle.

However, these electrically assisted bicycles must not be ridden by anyone under the age of 14.