A MAN has appeared at court after armed officers found a zombie knife in a car while investigating an assault.

Officers from the Castle Point and Rochford policing team said the alleged attack took place on Canvey in the early hours of March 6 .

While investigating the incident, armed response officers stopped a vehicle in High Road, Benfleet later that day.

It is alleged the large knife was recovered in the vehicle at the time and a man was arrested on suspicion of a string of offences including assault and possession of a knife in a public place.

In a post on their Facebook page, the Castle Point and Rochford policing team shared the alarming image of the knife which is said to have been recovered.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We have charged a man following an assault in Benfleet.

“We were called to reports a woman had been assaulted at an address in High Road at around 7.20pm on March 6.

“Mitchell Rhodes, 26, of Chancellor Road, Southend, was arrested and has been charged with two counts of assault by beating, two counts of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and possession of a knife in a public place.”

Rhodes appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

No plea was entered at the time and he is is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court later today.

He was remanded in custody until that time.

The find came during a dedicated week-long operation by Essex Police, and forces across the country, to tackle knife-related crime.

In Essex, Operation Sceptre will kick off a longer period of action designed to target knife crime.

During the crackdown the force will also target those carrying knives with the intention to use them to commit crime or cause harm.

Officers also encourage young people worried about knife crime to visit Fearless.org. For more information about knife crime in Essex, visit www.essex.police.uk/knifecrime