A teenager with drink problems took his employer's car and crashed it into another vehicle, a court was told.

He also had sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend who claimed she became pregnant by him, Southend magistrates heard.

The Rochford 18-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was ordered to undertake 80 hours of commmunity service, pay £1,050 compensation and was given a 12-month probation order.

The teenage admitted the offence of aggravated vehicle taking and other motoring offences at an earlier hearing and was appearing for sentencing.

While waiting for the sentence he saved £550 towards the compensation and applied for training courses as directed by magistrates, the court was told.

In the meantime, the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse also came to light, a charge to which he also pleaded guilty.

Mrs Iris Marr, prosecuting, said the girlfriend claimed she became pregnant by the teenager who denied this and counter-claimed that the girl had slept with others.

The 14-year-old girl has since had an abortion and has become moody and depressed, the court heard.

However, the 18-year-old was represented in court by Mr Michael Warren who said the two had been friends first, and the relationship had lasted several months.

He said: "We are talking about a consensual relationship. She was 14 when it started and he was 17.

"He admits it was his responsibility and it should never have been a sexual relationship."

The car incident happened when the teenager was drunk. He drove his employer's Ford Orion round the corner, lost control of it and crashed into a parked unattended Transit van, causing £2,000 worth of damage.

However despite this, his employer was still prepared to keep his job for him, though the teenager has not gone back there and hopes to embark on other job training, the court heard.

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