A RECKLESS man who stole a van, rammed into cars and attacked a police officer has confessed to his crimes before a crown court judge.

Tazarab Bashir hopped into the vehicle, which belonged to a contractor working on a bowling green, and sped off through a park.

Officers tracked down the van and pursued Bashir across Berkshire but he began to ram vehicles out of his way as he tried to escape.

Police eventually stopped the rogue driver and arrested him, but he was released on police bail. While on bail, he was arrested for another incident and attacked an arresting officer.

He was hauled before magistrates last week charged with a string of offences, all of which he admitted.

The drama unfolded on Monday December 5 when Bashir took the van from the bowling green in Victoria Park, Newbury.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Bashir drove away a vehicle belonging to contractors working to repair the bowling green.

"Officers spotted the van 20 minutes later on the M4 at Calcot and followed it to the Coppid Beech roundabout in Bracknell. As Bashir attempted to flee, he rammed several vehicles.

"Bashir was arrested on the 5 December and released on bail.

"While on bail, Bashir was arrested following an incident where a bollard was thrown at a car. While Bashir was being arrested he assaulted a constable."

Bashir, of no fixed abode, appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court last week charged with aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis, driving while disqualified and assaulting a constable.

He admitted the charges and was told he will be sentenced at a later date.