A teenager who escaped from court after persuading security guards to remove his handcuffs assaulted three police officers who found him.

Steven McGovern, 18, was originally arrested for stealing a motorbike after hurting his arm in a crash on July 10.

He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later that day with his left arm in a sling, meaning he could only be cuffed on his right arm.

Prosecutor Anna Robertson told the court: "As the accused approached the escort van, he said he would not be able to climb the steps into the van without the handcuffs being removed.

"The accused was then released from the single cuffs by the prison officers and immediately after the handcuffs were removed, he ran away.

"The prison officers were unable to catch him."

Eight police officers then tracked McGovern down to a flat in Granton, Edinburgh, before one found him under a pile of clothes on the floor.

Ms Robertson said: "The accused said 'watch this' and headbutted the officer on the face."

Another officer was kicked on the stomach and a third was headbutted and kicked.

McGovern, described as a prisoner at Polmont, previously admitted a string of charges and was sentenced on Wednesday.

Sheriff Kathrine Mackie placed McGovern on a supervised community payback order for three years and told him to perform 250 hours of unpaid work within 18 months.

He was also ordered to stay in his house between 6pm and 6am for six months and banned from driving for five years.