A WANTED man taunted police by posting “can’t catch me” messages on Facebook, then demanding to talk to the Prime Minister Joe Barlow, 20, is wanted by police after he failed to appear in court, charged with assaulting his mother.

Police posted his picture on their Facebook web page on Thursday, with an urgent request for the public to report any sightings of him.

Hours later, he began his online taunts on the force’s Facebook page, saying: “Can’t catch me”.

In response, Essex Police’s media department urged him to turn himself in, posting: “Joe Barlow – please go to Grays police station to discuss this.”

Barlow then said: “The police love wasting all your hardearned taxes on crimes that are irrelevant “I’m just fighting for a better justice system. I want to talk to the Prime Minister about it. I’m running to prove a point.”

Barlow, from Basildon, also claimed on Facebook to be in Spain, though he has since admitted he is still in his home town.

A police spokesman said: “Joe Barlow was arrested in the Brentwood area on Friday, February 14, following a disturbance inside a house.

“The 20-year-old builder was later charged with assault on his 41-year-old mother and damaging an inside wall of the property and a child’s chair with a knife.

“He was detained prior to his appearance at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, February 15. He was released on court bail prior to his appearance at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday, March 26, but failed to appear. Joe Barlow was last known to be living at a residential property in Swanstead, Basildon.”