The mother of a profoundly deaf man plans to file an official complaint with Essex Police after claiming he was sprayed with CS gas.

Mrs Viv Pharoah from Victoria Road, Cold Norton claims her 22-year-old son, Stuart's face and neck became red and he suffered blistering on his chin following the incident on Friday night.

She alleges he was leaving a night club in South Woodham with her niece and other friends after a night out when police who had been called to the area to deal with an incident appeared.

Mrs Pharoah said Stuart, who was not arrested or charged, ended up being sprayed with CS gas and they are now planning to make an official complaint.

She said: "He is profoundly deaf so no-one could communicate with him. Two of the police officers were very good and put him in a car and drove him home. They wanted him to wake myself and my husband but we didn't find out until the next day and we took him to the casualty unit at Broomfield."

In a statement from Essex Police a spokesman said: "An incident occurred in South Woodham in the early hours of Saturday morning during which a police officer was surrounded by a hostile crowd.

"In accordance with the Force policy and national guidelines which permit its use for an officer's protection CS spray was activated and four men were arrested and subsequently charged under the public order act.

"A fifth individual was contaminated by the spray. He did not require medical treatment and was taken home by police."

He added: "No complaint has been received from this individual. Should a complaint be received it will be fully investigated."

Stuart Pharoah after Friday night's incident.

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