A teenager who stole a funeral car from an undertaker and led police on a high speed chase before crashing has been jailed for six months.

Sammy Townsley drove through a city centre at more than 60mph in the Mercedes limousine which he stole from outside a funeral parlour.

A court was told yesterday that the unqualified joyrider was unable to control the powerful limo because he had only had a handful of driving lessons.

Townsley tried to outrun chasing police officers and eventually crashed into a barrier and telegraph pole, leaving his passenger unconscious at the roadside.

The 17-year-old - whose criminal record was described by Sheriff Michael Fletcher as "extraordinary" - was sentenced to a total of six months detention.

The learner driver was also disqualified for 18 months and ordered to sit the extended driving test. Townsley, of Binview Road, Buckie, admitted stealing the limousine and smashing it into the pole after losing control of the vehicle.

The car, which was stolen from James McEwan & Sons in Perth.

Townsley - who has been convicted of more than a dozen offences since turning 16 - admitted driving dangerously in the stretch funeral car on April 24.

Fiscal depute Lucy Keane told Perth Sheriff Court: "He was seen to swerve into the opposite carriageway several times. He was signalled to stop but he failed to do so. He negotiated several corners on the wrong side of the road before he lost control and collided with a crash barrier and telegraph pole."

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "He doesn't really have a good explanation - if there could be such a thing - as to why the vehicle was taken."