A thief who stole a van, crashed it in Enfield and then head-butted a police officer has been jailed.

Jahrell Warren used a skeleton ignition key to steal a Ford Transit van from the driveway of an address in Stanwell, Surrey, on July 4 this year, Harrow Crown Court heard.

The next day the vehicle was involved in a collision on the A10, Great Cambridge Road in Enfield.

Warren drove away from the scene but the van was then located by police in Linden Avenue, EN1.

A police officer approached the vehicle, but Warren refused to comply with his instructions to stay inside and attempted to escape via the driver side door.

Warren was the detained in handcuffs, but he then leant forward and head-butted the police officer, causing an injury to his lip.

During the journey in the custody van, Warren urinated, requiring the vehicle to be deep cleaned and removed as a policing response vehicle for a period of time.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision with the van contacted police and mobile phone footage showed Warren had clearly driven off from the scene.

In custody, Warren failed to provide samples of breath for analysis to find out whether he was over the drink drive limit.

Warren, 31, of Manor Road, Dagenham, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, October 13, to aggravated vehicle taking, assault on an emergency worker and criminal damage.

He also admitted driving with no insurance, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and failing to stop and the scene of an accident.

He was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.

Police Constable Matthew Olive, of the Met’s Road and Transport Policing Command, said: “Assaults on police officers in the line of duty will not be tolerated and I am glad Jahrell Warren will now spend a period of time in jail.

“By stealing the van and then crashing it, he showed a complete disregard for the safety of members of the public.

“The damage he caused to the police van further illustrates his contempt for public property. Credit should be given to the arresting officer, who gave chase and detained Warren and assisted in achieving this result.”