RICHARD Thornton has been charged with firearm and drug offences after an incident in Portishead last month.

The 48-year-old, of Merlin Park, appeared before North Somerset Magistrates on Monday (May 12) charged with being in possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of class B drugs.

Thornton has been remanded into custody and will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on June 9.

The charges follow an investigation into an incident in Merlin Park, Portishead, on Wednesday, April 30.

During the incident, two police firearms were discharged and a man was taken to hospital with an injury to this hand.

A mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the following day because of the nature of the injury, Avon & Somerset Police said.

“The IOPC informed us last week it will carry out an independent investigation into the policing response,” a police spokesperson added.