A 20-year-old man is due in court today charged with assault, theft and criminal damage.

Freddie Fellows is accused of threatening to burn down a Loughton home and damage the vehicles outside.

He is also accused of beating two of the people at the house, stealing a packet of cigarettes and damaging a wardrobe.

Mr Fellows, of Thirlmere Close in Braintree, has denied all five charges relating to the incident on November 28, last year.

He is to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.