A FORMER police officer who crashed a riot van after taking it from a police station was told he could go to prison.

Geoff Jackson, 29, crashed the vehicle into a central reservation after taking it from Paddington Green police station in London – said to be one of the most secure in Britain.

Jackson, of London Road, High Wycombe, then fell asleep in the back of the van. He had consumed "a considerable amount" of alcohol at a party the previous night.

He admitted taking a vehicle without consent, careless driving and driving without insurance when he appeared before City of Wesminister Magistrates Court this week.

Liverpudlian Jackson resigned his position as a Metropolitan Police officer working with the Territorial Support Group at Paddington Green following the incident.

Emma Scheer, prosecuting, told magistrates: “The night before this offence he had been out drinking with friends and consumed a considerable amount of alcohol.”

Ms Scheer said he had arranged to meet his girlfriend after the party, on January 18 this year, after missing the last train home.

She said: “He returned to Paddington Green station, entered a carrier required for service the following day and took the vehicle.

“He drove that vehicle 2.6 miles before colliding with the central reservation.

“The wheel of the carrier fell off and 1km later the vehicle came to a rest.”

Traffic police found the abandoned van on the A40 Westway, but despite flashing torches inside, Jackson was nowhere to be found.

The van was towed away and Jackson was found inside some four hours later, said Ms Scheer.

CCTV footage at the station revealed Jackson was the culprit.

Jackson was then breathalysed and despite the time lapse he still had 49mcg alcohol in 100ml breath - well over the 35mcg legal level.

He was not charged with drink-driving because of a lack of evidence.

He was suspended from his job in territorial support, whose officers are usually deployed to keep order at demonstrations and football matches.

Jackson was granted bail with a condition of residency by District Judge Caroline Tubbs, ahead of being sentenced on December 30 while probation reports were made.

Ms Tubbs told Jackson: “It is a serious matter. At this stage the court has in mind a custodial sentence in relation to the matter of taking a vehicle.

“All options are going to be open to the court at sentencing.

“The fact you pleaded guilty and the stage that you pleaded guilty will be taken into account in due course.”

IT has been brought to our attention that the picture of a man used with this report when it was first uploaded on to this website was not, in fact, Geoff Jackson. The picture had been supplied by an agency.