A teenager has been sentenced for causing the death of a woman while riding a privately-owned e-scooter on a pavement.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named, hit 71-year-old Linda Davis in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, on 2nd June. She died six days later in hospital.

She is thought to be the first pedestrian to die in an e-scooter collision in the UK, police said.

The teenager was handed a 12-month referral order at Nottingham Youth Court on Wednesday.

It is not known the speed of the e-scooter at the time of the crash, but the defendant reportedly said at the scene he was travelling at 20mph.

The judge told the court the teenager's father had bought the e-scooter for him six days earlier.

The teenager had admitted causing death by driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and causing death by driving a vehicle while uninsured at a hearing in February. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.

It was announced last year that e-scooters would be legalised in the UK through the creation of a new low-speed, zero-emission vehicle category. However, the Transport Bill that will legalise them has been pushed back until late this year at the earliest.

E-scooters can however be ridden when rented as part of official trials, which are taking place across the UK. Trial e-scooters can be used on the roads, except motorways, and in cycle lanes, but can not be ridden on the pavement. The maximum speed for an e-scooter is 15.5mph.

> E-scooters and the law: When and where are you legally allowed to ride an electric scooter?

Detective constable Emma Temple, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said the case shows how 'vitally important' it is for people to fully understand the laws and implications of riding e-scooters and where they can be used.

“A family has been truly devastated by their loss of a much-loved wife, mum and nan and our thoughts remain very much with them at this difficult time,” said Temple.

“This was a completely avoidable collision. This boy now has to live with the knowledge that his actions that day resulted in the death of a much-loved woman.

“Our priority is to keep people safe. We will continue to take appropriate and proportionate action against those who break the law and will investigate reports such as the dangerous or antisocial riding of e-scooters.

“Where appropriate officers will proactively seize, and have seized, vehicles that have been driven or ridden illegally or consistently in an antisocial manner.

"Officers also try to educate those involved around the law regarding the use of e-scooters in public areas.”

A new report on e-scooter safety standards recently recommended a 12.5mph factory-set speed limit and compulsory helmets. The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and the UK Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) also recommend larger wheels, bans on passengers and pavement riding and a minimum age of 16.