A wanted man was arrested in a police stop and search road safety operation.

Mark Spinks, of Templar Road, Braintree who had failed to appear at court in connection with a theft was arrested as officers performed checks in the Coldnailhurst Avenue area of Braintree.

The 28-year-old appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court last Wednesday where he pleaded guilty.

A further 15 drivers were stopped for offences during the operation on March 23 and 13 motorists received fixed penalty fines for failing to wear a seatbelt or using a mobile phone while driving.

Pc Deborah Gray Farrer, who ran the operation, said: “Road policing officers are committed to reducing the number of fatal and serious injury road collisions on our roads.

“Four of the most common factors that can have a big impact in road collisions are drink/drug driving, excessive speeding, using a mobile phone whilst driving or failing to wear a seat belt.

“We will continue to tackle this offending behaviour in an effort to save people's lives.”