A teenager who escaped jail for a mock drive by shooting just days after being released from prison was abusive to probation staff.

Jamie Sharman-Palmer swore at workers who were trying to help him, hurled a piece of wood across a room and turned his back on officers who were speaking to him.

But rather than sending the 19-year-old to prison a judge at Swindon crown court imposed a six month curfew keeping him inside from 7pm to 7am.

Marcus Davey, prosecuting, said in March Sharman-Palmer was put on a two year supervision order with a three month curfew order and told to attend a think first programme.

But on Thursday September 6 he said the teenager behaved in an aggressive manner' when he attended a probation appointment.

As well as swearing at staff he said Sharman-Palmer picked up a piece of wood and threw it across the room, though no one was struck by it.

The following Tuesday Mr Davey said he went back and was abusive from the start' being rude to the tutors.

"When they tried to speak to him in effect he turned his back on them so he was facing the wall," he said.

Mr Davey said the probation service acknowledged Sharman-Palmer had and will continue to turn up for appointments; they were just concerned he will not participate.

Virginia Cornwall, defending, said on the first occasion her client was upset as he had just been thrown out of home by his mother and had nowhere to go.

The next time he had turned up early for a catch up session when he was poorly behaved.

She said he was back living with his mum who works one hour a day and supports him as he is not working and does not claim any benefits.

Judge Douglas Field told him "This behaviour is totally unacceptable. There is no excuse at all for it and I am seriously considering sending you straight into custody.

"You were fortunate indeed to get a community order for this offence and what do you do? You turn up and abuse those people who were there to help you."

Sharman-Palmer was in a friend's car when he pointed the fake pistol at an 18-year-old walking along the A4 in Chippenham on his way to work in December last year.

But the car was being followed two off duty police officers and they followed while contacting colleagues.

And when he was detained him he said Don't do this to me mate, I have only just got out of prison. Don't do this to me'.

The officers saw the black pistol which had a brown handle being pointed out of the window and the barrel raised as if it had been fired.

They followed the car to the West Wells area of Corsham while contacting on duty colleagues and moved in to speak to the two lads in the car when it stopped.

When he was questioned he said that he had found the toy gun, a plastic replica, in the glove box of the car and agreed that someone at a distance would be frightened by it.

He said he and the driver thought what they were doing was a laugh and good fun'.

Sharman-Palmer, of Dicketts Road, Corsham, admitted a charge of affray.

Adam Vaitilingam, defending, said his client had been released from the young offenders institute at Portland at the end of November and had a thoroughly miserable time there.