Basildon man Brett Bruce charged for shoplifting offences

Police 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.

The person of interest was found at the service station on the westbound A13 near Standford-le-Hope, shortly after 8pm on Thursday.

Essex Police approached the man and as they did, the man produced a “stun gun-style device and discharged it at one officer”.

The force - a police officer (Image: UGC)

As the arrest continued, a separate officer was assaulted, a man aged in his 30s was arrested at the scene and questioned on suspicion of a number of offences. 

The force was then authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge Brett Bruce, 33, Of Malyons, Basildon.

He was 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. 

Brett appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday, October 12, in relation to shoplifting incidents.

Location - Colchester Magistrates' Court (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) 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.” 

The man has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Basildon Crown Court on November 15.