A TRAINEE pilot rode a motorbike too powerful for the terms of his licence after receiving advice from his father.

Duncan Stafford pleaded guilty to riding a Honda CBR 600 otherwise than accordance with his licence and without insurance at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The 23-year-old told the court he had a full driving licence and had passed his CBT – compulsory basic training – but he did not realise this did not entitle him to ride that type of motorcycle.

Stafford, of The Avenue, Waresley, Kidderminster, said he had insurance but only discovered this was invalidated by the “misunderstanding” following an accident.

He admitted he was using the motorbike after his father assured him his age entitled him to ride it.

Speaking from the public gallery, Stafford’s father said the confusion was down to him because he had assumed from articles he had read in motorbike magazines that his son would be covered.

Stafford, who is working full-time and at a nightclub in the evenings to fund his training for a commercial pilot’s licence, was given six penalty points and fined £100.

He must also pay costs of £10 and a £15 victim surcharge.