A HEARTBROKEN mother, whose 18-year-old son lost his life in a road crash, has called for tighter controls on the sale of motorbikes to teenagers.

Scooter rider Craig Hallam suffered fatal injuries after being clipped by a motorcyclist on the A35 Upton by-pass and falling into the path of a car.

Jurors at Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Christopher McMullen, 18, had not been permitted to ride such a powerful 600CC Yahama machine.

McMullen of Linderback Drive, Verwood, was acquitted of causing Craig Hallam's death by dangerous driving.

He was found guilty of a lesser charge of careless driving, fined £300 and banned from driving for a year.

Judge John Beashel told him: "Your carelessness has had tragic consequences; you will have to live with that for the rest of your life."

Craig's mother Mandie Langdown, who is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of her youngest son in September 2006, told the Daily Echo: "Permitting an 18-year-old to ride a 600CC bike is like putting a dangerous weapon in the hands of a 10-year-old.

"They are very powerful machines. I've passed my motorbike test and ridden a 404CC Honda so I am speaking from experience.

"It was not until I'd passed my test that I became more sympathetic to riders and realised how dangerous their position is on the road.

"They are much more at risk because they don't have the same protection as other road users."

The mother-of-three from Cranborne added: "The bike Christopher was riding was capable of travelling at 160 mph.

"I saw him in court; he is about the same size as Craig. As well as being too powerful, the bike Christopher was riding was physically too big for an 18-year-old to handle.

"Youngsters think they are indestructible. Craig did; he never had any fear or concept of danger.

"On the day the jury returned their verdicts Christopher apologised for what he'd done. I've forgiven him and I'm glad he wasn't sent to prison.

"But I want to warn other youngsters and their parents of the dangers of motorbikes. In the wrong hands they can be lethal weapons.

"My main hope is that other families won't have to endure the same heartache as we've had to face since Craig's death."