To most eyes she was just a little girl doing no harm to anyone as she made her way to school with her father . But to the local police , Sophie Lindley was a law-breaking menace ... because she was riding her bicycle on the pavement . An officer stopped the four-year-old and threatened to confiscate the purple bike , which is fitted with stabilisers , if she did not get off and walk . Scroll down for video . Left in tears : Sophie Lindley had been cycling with stabilisers on the way to school in Grantham , Lincolnshire . 'Daft ' : The girl 's father Dale Lindley ( pictured ) had to carry his daughter , who was now in tears , and her bike . Sophie , from Grantham , Lincolnshire , was wearing a helmet and her father Dale was holding a lead attached to the bicycle as she rode to school . They had paused to feed the ducks when the policeman warned her it was against the law to ride on the pavement . Former soldier Mr Lindley , 34 , said : ‘ At first I thought he was joking but he looked deadly serious . ‘ I said , “ You must be kidding . What do you want me to do , make her ride on the busy road ? It ’ s rush hour. ” . ‘ He just shrugged and said , “ She must get off the bike and walk and I ’ m going to sit here and make sure you don ’ t put her back on it . If you do , I ’ ll confiscate the bike. ” I was gobsmacked. ’ The officer kept watch as they began the one-mile walk uphill to West Grantham Academy St John ’ s school . When Sophie arrived at school she was in floods of tears , Mr Lindley said . Traumatic experience : By the time Sophie was in school , 'she was so upset a teacher had to calm her down ' ‘ The poor thing thought she was going to be put in jail . I ’ m absolutely outraged that a policeman can act in this way . Surely the police have better things to do than pick on parents taking their kids to school ? ’ Sophie ’ s mother Emma Stephenson , 33 , said : ‘ When Dale came home and told me what had happened I couldn ’ t believe it . ‘ How on earth is my daughter riding her little bike with stabilisers to school a criminal offence ? Surely there needs to be some common sense applied . ‘ You can ’ t expect a four-year-old to ride in the road – it ’ s not exactly safe . ‘ I am trying to teach her that they [ the police ] are friendly . Now that has all gone out the window. ’ Lincolnshire Police have now apologised to the family , admitting that common sense should have prevailed , but Sophie ’ s parents are considering making a formal complaint so no other child is treated in the same way . 'Absolutely outraged ' : Mr Lindley ( left ) said his daughter Sophie 'thought she was going to be put in jail ' 'Unbelievable ' : Sophie 's mother Emma Stephenson ( above ) accepted it was illegal to ride on the pavement , but added that it was 'ridiculous to think a four-year-old is not allowed . Cycling groups criticised the officer ’ s actions . Roger Geffen of CTC , the national cycling charity , said : ‘ Everyone lets their children ride on the pavement . It is perfectly normal and not criminal. ’ A CTC spokesman said : ‘ A four-year-old child should be encouraged to cycle and not be deterred . It is good exercise and gives them a sense of independence . Police officers should use their discretion – this child wasn ’ t causing any danger or distress. ’ Cyclists are told in section 64 of the Highway Code that 'you must not cycle on a pavement ' - which is backed up in law by section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 . The penalty for cycling on the pavement is a fixed penalty notice of £30 under section 51 and schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 . However , children under 10 can not be charged with committing a crime , although they can be given a local child curfew - an overnight ban from being in public without an adult . Last year cycling minister Robert Goodwill told police that cyclists should not be fined for mounting the pavement to avoid dangerous stretches of road . He urged police to remember official guidelines from 1999 which state that fines are not aimed at those using pavements out of ‘ fear of traffic ’ , provided they show consideration for pedestrians .
Sophie Lindley Lindley was cycling with stabilisers in Grantham with her father . But officer 'pulled over and told them her actions were against the law ' Sophie Lindley was left in tears and police have since apologised to her family .