A man is due before the magistrates this morning accused of spitting at police officers. 

Christopher Howard, 40, of Sheringham Court, Liden, has been charged with four counts of assaulting emergency workers, theft from the person, criminal damage to a police van, sending a hoax message and breaching police bail conditions. 

It follows an incident in the early hours of Friday morning, when police were called to Burford Avenue, Old Walcot, following reports of a man interfering with vehicles parked in the street.

A police dog, Conan, found a man hiding beneath a lorry. Wiltshire Police said the suspect had spat at officers and grabbed a constable's arm as he was being arrested.

Howard also faces three allegations of vehicle interference. Prosecutors claim he interfered with a VW Golf, Audi A3 and Peugeot 203 in Swindon on July 19.

He is expected to appear before Swindon Magistrates' Court in person this morning.