A man in Carlisle has been fined for £55 dangerous cycling – after being spotted by a police officer riding his bike with his young daughter perched on his shoulders.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court was told that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to a court order preventing his child from being identified, was seen cycling “at high speed” on a path adjacent to Wigton Road at around 4.30pm on 7 August this year.

According to the News and Star, the court was told that the man seemed to be unsteady on his bike as he used his left hand to steer while his right hand held onto his daughter’s leg, and that neither he nor his child, described as pre-school age, was wearing a cycle helmet.

The man, aged in his 20s, pleaded not guilty and insisted that he did not believe his actions to be dangerous, but his defence was rejected.

Besides the fine imposed by magistrates, the defendant also has to pay a £20 victim surcharge as well as £100 in prosecution costs.

Under section 28 of the Road Traffic Act 1991, "a person is to be regarded as riding dangerously if (and only if) (a) the way he rides falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful cyclist, and (b) it would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist that riding in that way would be dangerous."

The offence carries a maximum penalty of a £2,500 fine.