A MIDDLE-AGED learner driver put a child's life at risk by carrying him on a moped with only a plastic cycle helmet for protection.

Eamon McGuigan, 42, was filmed by police as he drove along Otley Road, Skipton, after collecting the four-year-old child dressed in summer clothes from nursery.

On the film, he is seen weaving in and out of traffic just feet from the police station before negotiating a mini roundabout at the junction with Shortbank Road and coming to a stop.

McGuigan, who admitted dangerous driving on June 17, was also only a provisional licence holder and was uninsured, Skipton magistrates heard.

Prosecuting, Suzanne Paige said the child was seated between McGuigan and the steering column and was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts and with a plastic cycle helmet on his head.

"He drove along the road, driving between vehicles to the roundabout with Shortbank Road where he pulled over onto the pavement in front of a Range Rover," she said.

She said it was not the manner of driving that was dangerous, but the sheer fact that he was carrying an unrestrained child.

"The child was not wearing any protective clothing or headgear. There was complete disregard for the safety of the child," she said.

McGuigan, who the court heard had no previous convictions, told police at the time that the moped had belonged to a friend and he had believed he was insured. He admitted to being a provisional licence holder only, but was not displaying any learner plates.

In mitigation, John Mewies said both McGuigan and the child were wearing shorts and T-shirts and that the moped had been given to McGuigan a few days earlier.

McGuigan had been out of work since 2008 and the moped was a means of transport to get him to job interviews.

Mr Mewies said McGuigan had also been seen driving the moped with the child close to where he lived and was driving just a short distance when he was stopped by police.

"Even if he had not been stopped by police, it was a relatively short distance, although I am not seeking to diminish the seriousness of it," he said.

Magistrates imposed an interim driving ban on McGuigan, of Moor Crescent, and adjourned sentencing until November 7 for reports.

Road safety charity Brake condemned McGuigan's actions and reminded people of the danger of everyday driving.

“This is a shocking case of an individual endangering their own life and the lives of others through irresponsible actions on our roads, " said Philip Goose, Brake's senior community engagement officer. "It is worth remembering even to those of us who consider ourselves responsible drivers that driving is still the most dangerous thing that we do on a daily basis with the potential to kill or seriously injure others – every day five people die on roads in the UK.

"It is important that we think of the safety of all road users and make sure that ourselves and our passengers are correctly restrained.”