A 41-year-old man has been charged with assault by beating of an officer following an incident at Kenilworth's Sainsbury's on March 9.

Warwickshire Police was called to the town centre supermarket on Sunday, after Martin Edgar, Chester Street, Coventry had allegedly assaulted the store manager.

This follows two incidents on 29 February and 5 March during which a man entered the store on Warwick Road and allegedly stole bottles of spirits to an alleged total combined value of £300.

On Saturday, Mr Edgar entered the store again, where he was reportedly recognised by the store manager from the previous two incidents.

The manager was allegedly assaulted by the man who then, after reportedly being detained until the arrival of police, allegedly shouted expletives loudly in the store.

After his arrest, the man allegedly kicked an officer in the leg when they attempted to intervene in his allegedly hostile behaviour towards another officer.

Mr Edgar was charged with assault by beating of an officer, common assault, threatening behaviour, attempted theft from a shop, and two counts of theft from a shop.

Edgar will appear in Coventry Magistrates Court on 11 March for his first hearing.

Following the incident, police responded to images circulating on social media which showed a police car parked in the wrong direction right outside the store.

A post on Facebook from Warwickshire Police's operational patrol unit said: "Yesterday we attended an incident at Sainsbury's in Kenilworth where an individual was arrested on suspicion of theft and assault.

"There has been some of social media speculation as to why there was a traffic car there, why the need for OPU for this specific individual.

"The secret is.........We were closest and went to help.

"Just because it was a traffic car that was closest doesn't mean we don't deal with crime.

"And yes, I parked the car the wrong way. Sorry not sorry.

"When it's reported that there is a risk to the public and violence allegedly being used I wasn't going to look for a space."