A young Londoner with a fanatical love of buses stole two double-deckers for middle-of-the-night joyrides, and even picked up passengers along the way.

Shakeil Austin, 20, who only had a provisional licence, crashed one of the 12-tonne vehicles into a white Mercedes but failed to stop - instead sneaking it back to its Edgware Road depot.

A month later, wearing an inspector’s hat and hi-vis jacket, he took another bus from the same spot, this time picking up two passengers on his ride.

He let one of them, a male friend of his, drive the bus 'about 15ft', Willesden Green magistrates court heard.

Shakeil Austin, 20, who only had a provisional licence, has a social media account littered with pictures of buses and of himself dressed up as a conductor, as above

The 20-year-old from London stole two double-deckers and took them for a drive

Austin of Brent, North West London, admitted eight offences to Willesden Green magistrates

After safely dropping off both riders, Austin again parked the vehicle where he had found it.

The early hours thefts on February 16 and March 25, involved Metroline red Routemaster buses.

Last July, Austin was dismissed after a week working at a local bus garage — where it is thought he may have picked up tricks on how to start the vehicles using a combination of buttons.

His Facebook page is littered with bus memorabilia, images of old Routemasters and snaps of himself dressed as a conductor and a driver.

Austin of Brent, North West London, admitted eight offences to Willesden Green magistrates.