Assault suspect arrested after contacting Swansea police to have 'unflattering' mugshot removed

'Innocent until proven guilty and all that,' says Wayne Esmonde

Mug got: Wayne Esmonde handed himself into police in Swansea after the complaint (Facebook/South Wales Police)

A man who requested that his “unflattering” mugshot be taken down from a police Facebook page has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Wayne Esmonde, 35, who was sought in connection with an attack on 18 July, openly criticised South Wales Police for posting the photo online.

Mr Esmonde, from Fforestfach in Swansea, was shown looking wide-eyed and staring blankly into the camera in the offending photo. “I am him. Not a very flattering mugshot,” he wrote shortly after it was posted. “I’d appreciate it if you’d take this post down. Innocent until proven guilty and all that.

“I’ve spoken to my solicitor and they will advise me what to do next. Thanks.”

Mr Esmonde handed himself in at Swansea Central police station on Thursday, and the force updated their post with the mugshot removed from view.

“A helicopter must have spotted his eyeballs lighting up the night sky,” one Facebook user said.

Last year, an Australian teenager who was on the run from police got in touch with a news channel asking them to use a more flattering photograph of her. Also last year, an Ohio fugitive who disliked his mugshot sent police a selfie adding: “Here is a better photo that one is terrible”. He was then arrested.