A snarling teenager threatened a policeman with the Aids virus, a court heard.

Sam Jarman-Hall, 19, spat at the arresting officer and snapped: "I've got HIV and I am going to kill you."

However, there was no evidence to suggest that Jarman-Hall, of Mendip Crescent, Leigh, had the deadly disease, said Stephanie Farrimond, prosecuting.

The barrister described how the defendant and four friends were seen by security guards getting into a Ford Escort XR3 in the Royals shopping car park, Southend.

She added that the guard thought the youths were stealing the vehicle - but they were not.

Police were called to the scene and flashed Jarman-Hall to pull over, but he sped away.

He refused to stop and put his foot down on the accelerator, Miss Farrimond told Basildon Crown Court.

Jarman-Hall reached speeds of 60 mph in built-up areas, narrowly missing other cars and jumping red lights.

In Fairfax Drive, his car went out of control, hit a kerb, then came to a halt.

Miss Farrimond said it was when the defendant was taken to a police station that he became abusive to the officers, shouting and spitting.

The court heard that Jarman-Hall was "a Jekyll and Hyde character" with a serious drink problem which he is trying to beat.

He was attending AA meetings while in youth prison and is also on a Samaritans course. He helps other inmates and has earned a top canteen job for good behaviour.

Jarman-Hall, who has a girlfriend and daughter, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to give a breath test to police and driving while disqualified.

He was sentenced to 13 months in a young offenders' institution and banned from driving for three years.

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