A 26-YEAR-OLD man was arrested in Trowbridge last week after being spotted pulling what appeared to be a handgun from his trousers.

Just before 8pm on Friday (April 14) police received a report that a man was spotted pulling the gun out of his trousers in Spitfire Retail Park, Trowbridge.

Officers attended the scene and found the man in the forecourt of the BP garage in West Ashton Road.

The man, of no fixed address, was searched and found to be in possession of a ball bearing gun.

He was arrested on suspicion of common assault in relation to an incident which occurred on February 15 in Wicker Hill, in which a 19-year-old man from Trowbridge was walking in the area when he had his mobile phone snatched by two men on bikes.

When the victim ran after the men, he was pushed up against a wall and threatened.

The man arrested has been released under investigation, under the new bail laws.

Sergeant Gill Hughes said: “Following a report from a member of the public, officers from the local Community Policing Team swiftly attended the scene and with the assistance of NPAS (police helicopter) we were able to quickly locate the male.

"Although he wasn’t found in possession of a hand gun as initially reported, he did have a ball bearing gun on him and he was wanted for a previous offence which officers arrested him for.

“He has been released under investigation to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.”