A MAN has appeared in court charged with shoplifting items worth more than £1,700 as well as two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and two firearms offences. 

Officers were hunting for a man who was wanted for a series of shoplifting offences when a person of interest was spotted at a BP service station on the westbound A13 near to Stanford-le-Hope, shortly after 8pm on Thursday, 10 October. 

Officers then approached the man. As they did, he produced a stun gun-style device and discharged it at one officer.

As the arrest continued, a separate officer was assaulted. The man was eventually arrested at the scene and questioned on suspicion of a number of offences. 

Brett Bruce, 33, of Malyons, Basildon, has since been charged with six counts of theft, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge, made use of a firearm, namely stun gun and possession of a Class A drug. 

He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday (Saturday, 12 October) and was remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Crown Court on 15 November.

Detective Inspector Richard Trower said: "Such is the dedication of the officers involved in this potentially dangerous situation, both remained on duty to ensure the safety of our Thurrock community. 

"As a police force, we know that shoplifting significantly impacts on businesses, but also upon the people who work in those businesses.

"We work across the force to ensure those people suspected of shoplifting are brought to justice and officers from our dedicated business crime team are also specialists in putting in place court orders to curb an offender's behaviour. And if those orders are breached, that's a criminal offence and we'll pursue them – again."