A VIOLENT young man hurled a traffic cone at a police vehicle on the doorstep of their station, before threatening to stab a sergeant.

James Condon, 19, appeared 'drunk' when he tossed a yellow cone at an oncoming police car on Castle Street in the early hours of Boxing Day last year.

When he was subdued by police he admitted wrecking two of their vehicles behind the station, causing more than £1,200 worth of damage.

He was later seen with a broken bottle, which he brandished towards police officers before threatening to stab Sergeant Whatmore on January 22.

Sarah Mackay, prosecuting, said: "He looked drunk, angry and aggressive and he was messing about with a yellow cone. He was clearly trying to get himself arrested.

"He threw the cone at the car, causing the police car to stop suddenly. When the officers told him he was not going to be arrested he said 'you should look what I have done around the back' referring to the windows he had destroyed.

"He returned to the station later that year in an aggressive state, shouting 'come on you p*****s, where is Sergeant Whatmore'."

When the officers approached him they noticed a brown broken bottle neck, which narrowly missed an officer when he threw it to the floor.

A hearing at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 23 heard how officers became increasingly concerned when he vowed to 'stab the c**t'.

Mr Condon, who works as a tarmacker for West Berkshire Council, was originally due to appear before magistrates on Friday, March 17, but he failed to attend and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Jo Benn, defending, added: "Mr Condon is aware of the severity of his actions, he has pleaded guilty to all of the offences at the earliest opportunity and he deserves full credit for doing so."

Judge Graham Woodfine concluded: "These are very serious offences and a punishment beyond our powers is coming your way."

Condon, of Great Knollys Street, was released on unconditional bail and is due to be sentenced at a later hearing at Reading Crown Court.

He faces two counts of criminal damage to property under £5,000, one count of causing danger to road users, one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and one count of using threatening and abusive language to provoke unlawful violence.