A SOMERSET man arrested during an armed siege in Trowbridge on Sunday has been charged with eight offences.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that Robert Stamp, 34, of Goldcroft in Yeovil, has been charged with eight offences.

He appeared at Yeovil Magistrates Court on Wednesday (April 14) and was bailed to appear before the same court on November 15.

Mr Stamp is charged with assault by beating, assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage, obstruct/resist an officer in execution of duty, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without due care and attention, driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

A 38-year-old man from Trowbridge, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and obstructing police, has been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.

The incident followed an attempted arrest in Yeovil early on Sunday morning and an alleged assault on a police officer.

The suspect was tracked by helicopter to a house on the Longfield estate in Trowbridge, leading to a six-hour siege by armed officers.

More than a dozen officers from Wiltshire and Avon & Somerset Police forces attended the scene in Bramley Lane. The two men were eventually arrested before 4.30pm and taken into custody at Melksham.

Wiltshire Police said the arrests followed “serious offences linked to an incident which started in the Avon and Somerset area this morning.

“We were called to a domestic disorder at an address in Trowbridge. Due to the concern for welfare of those involved, armed officers were deployed as a precautionary measure.”

By midday, there were four armed units at the scene, with three marked cars and one unmarked 4x4. Nearby residents heard the police helicopter overhead as officers swooped on the house.