It was a successful morning for Essex Police on Saturday as officers tracked down a stolen vehicle less than an hour after it had been reported missing.

Roads Policing Officers located the stolen van travelling along the A414 in Maldon on April 19.

Officers from roads policing teams and the Dog Unit followed the van in a safe pursuit before bringing it to a tactical stop in Maypole Road, shortly before 8.30am.

George Pallett, 30, of Guithavon Court, Witham, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday, April 21 to answer to the following charges:

• Theft of a vehicle
• Dangerous driving
• Assault by beating of an emergency worker
• Failed to prove a specimen for analysis
• Racially / religiously aggravated harassment / alarm / distress by words / writing
• Use of threatening / abusive words / behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
• Driving with no licence and no insurance.

He has now been remanded into custody to Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday, May 19.