A SUSPECTED shoplifted accused of assaulting a security guard had to be coaxed out of his home by officers after he barricaded himself inside.

Police were called to JD Sports, in Basildon town centre, at about 2.35pm yesterday after a man became aggressive and assaulted a security guard when he was approached.

Following a police chase through the streets, officers pursued him to a home in Clay Hill Road, close to Kingswood Primary School.

The man then barricaded himself inside the house by placing a ladder against the front door in a bid to evade capture.

After emergency response officers negotiated with him by talking through a window, the man eventually walked out.

Insp Rob Brettell, from Basildon’s local policing team, praised his officers for managing to get the man out of his home. He said: “We were alerted to an assault on a security guard at JD Sports in Basildon following a suspected shoplifting.

“We traced him to a house in Clay Hill Road and went down there to try and arrest him.

“When we got there, he tried to barricade himself inside the property by putting a ladder against the door so we couldn’t get inside.

“We were preparing to go into the home but eventually he gave himself up.

“He decided to hand himself in after negotiations with officers.

“Someone was talking to him through an open window.”

Five officers from the Basildon local policing team who were trained in public order, as well as a police dog and its handler were at Clay Hill Road during the arrest.

Mr Brettell said the police presence caused quite a commotion as children from Kingswood Primary School opposite were leaving for the day.

He said: “We closed the pavement and got a couple of PCSOs to speak to the parents who were with their children to move away from the scene.”

At the time of the incident, he took to Twitter to offer reassurance to the community.

He tweeted: “There is an ongoing police incident in Basildon, there is currently no risk to the public and not related to school.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police were contacted shortly before 2.35pm yesterday with reports of a shoplifting at JD sports in Basildon town centre.

“There were also reports that the suspect became aggressive with staff and ran off.

“He was seen entering an address in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, where officers detained him.

“A 25-year-old man from Basildon was arrested on suspicion of assault and theft from a shop.

“He is currently in custody awaiting questioning.”

Anyone with information about shoplifting in Basildon can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.