A WANTED man sought by police in connection with burglary and theft taunted officers over social media after they used his receding hairline as a means of identifying him.

Essex Police’s Colchester community policing team put out a social media appeal to find 28-year-old Tony Coppin.

The force is hunting for Mr Coppin in connection with alleged burglary and theft offences.

In the appeal, officers said the wanted man could be identified by his “short, brown, receding hair.”

The appeal added: “We want to speak to Tony Coppin in connection with burglary and theft offences.

“The 28-year-old, from Colchester is described as white, 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build, and has short, brown, receding hair.

“He is known to frequent Colchester, Jaywick, and the Martello beach holiday park.”

But Mr Coppin took to the comments section to voice his defiance and even drop a clue as to his whereabouts.

The wanted man, who lists ‘burglar’ as his employment status on his Facebook page and says he studied at HM prison, said: “Listen up, you’re not gonna catch me.

“Give up before you lot embarrass yourselves, I’m currently driving about in a Range Rover, give you a little hint.”

After viewing the picture attached to the appeal, another commenter asked: “Is the hair pointing to his one remaining brain cell?”

The comments prompted Mr Coppin to write an expletive, before adding: “You’re all hurting because I probably burgled your mum’s gaff.

“You lot got 9am to 5pm jobs, I don’t judge you? Why you judging me?”

Aiming a jibe at the force’s description of him, Mr Coppin said: “Someone get me a plane ticket to Turkey, I need a hair transplant according to Essex Police.”

Anyone with information about Mr Coppin’s whereabouts can submit a report online at essex.police.uk or use the Live Chat button to speak to an online operator between 7am and 11pm.

Alternatively, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.