POLICE have defended their decision to release a youth arrested over vandalism on new toilets in Benfleet.

They say officers investigating the £2,000 attack on the Richmond Hall car park toilets in October were not totally sure the teenager in the CCTV picture above was the lad in question.

The youth was identified by members of the public and arrested, but Chief Insp Paul Eveleigh, Castle Point's district commander said the images were not clear enough to make a case in court.

He explained: "The officer on the case viewed the images and thought it could be the person, but to charge someone with an offence, it has to be clearly more than we had.

"You can't stand up in a court of law and say it could' be the person.

"We have to have an irrefutable image, where it is clear the person is the one the court has before it."

Mr Eveleigh said other checks had been done in an effort to clarify the matter.

He said: "The image showed the suspect came up to a certain point on the wall. By measuring that, the officer was able to ascertain the suspect we arrested was too tall to be the person on CCTV."

Mr Eveleigh said CCTV images, though sometimes difficult to use in court, nevertheless helped bring culprits to book.

He explained: "Sometimes it gives us the start we need. Sometimes we can identify clothes people are wearing in a picture. Unfortunately, we weren't able to in this case."

The police stress they are still investigating the incident and have asked the Echo to publish the image in the hope more information may emerge.

David Cross, councillor for St Mary's ward, reacted angrily last week when he heard the youth, had been released. But he said he now understood what police were up against.

He added: "I understand they have to be 100 per cent sure, but whoever did this was pictured full on to the camera.

"I hope they catch these yobs - and I'm glad to hear they are still looking."

Anyone who thinks they know the people in the picture or has information about the incident, should call police on 01268 775533, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.