A TEENAGE motorist, who smashed into a police car after a scuffle, has been ordered to spend three months in custody.

Armed police had to be called after the 17-year-old accelerated towards officers on March 20.

Prosecutor Bob Rowlingson told Southend Youth Court the series of events began in Great Wakering after the youngster, who cannot be named, pushed another teenager.

As officers tried to speak to him, he drove away, before turning the car around and driving back towards them.

The boy crashed into the police car, causing £500 damage, before driving away.

He was later spotted driving from Shoebury to Rochford, and was followed by police Mr Rowlingson said: “Although he wasn’t driving at high speed, he was making erratic manoeuvres, sharp breaking, and dangerous overtaking. Eventually, he returned to his home address.”

He parked at his home, in Great Wakering, and threw tools at the police car – which had been parked to block him in – and shouted obscenities at officers.

The boy then took his mother’s car and drove it across fields.

When he returned home, he drove at firearms officers, the court heard.

He ran into his house and was later found hiding in his garage, and was arrested.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assault, two counts of criminal damage, dangerous driving, and threatening unlawful violence.

Craig Tipper, mitigating, said the teenager had “low intelligence” and was “extremely remorseful”.

Chairman of the bench, Ian Kirby, said the teenager had endangered the lives of police and members of the public.

He said: “This is so serious that only a custodial sentence should be passed.”

Mr Kirby passed a six-month detention and training order, half of which will be served in custody.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months.