A WANTED man has admitted driving dangerously through Southend in a bid to evade the police.

Mark Box, 29, of no fixed address, admitted leading officers on a highspeed chase between Bellhouse Lane and South Avenue, in Southend, on May 13.

He also admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply, when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Box denied one charge of cultivating, which judge John Lodge ordered to lie on file.

A high-profile media appeal was launched to find Box in connection with the theft of £100,000 of fire arms, including shotguns and rifles, which were stolen off the back of a lorry as it was parked on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, in Basildon.

Four men have since pleaded guilty to stealing the firearms between April 18 and April 20, possessing firearms without a licence and possessing shotguns without a certificate.

They are Daniel Harris, 33, of Godman Road, Ashley Henry, 27, of no fixed address, Ryan Heapy, 24, of Hobart Road, and MatthewWells, 28, of Godman Road, all of Chadwell St Mary.

Jason Balding, 33, of Nicholson Crescent, Benfleet, and Mark Box, 29, of no fixed address, admitted receiving the stolen firearms, possessing firearms without a licence and possessing shotguns without a certificate.

Two other defendants, Eric Rudanec, 52, of Southchurch Avenue, in Southend, and Marcus Ireson, 28, from Grays, denied receiving the stolen firearms, possessing shot guns without a certificate and possessing firearms without a licence.

Kenneth Slade, 34, of Ferndown Close, Southend, denies conspiring to receive stolen firearms.

The trial of Slade and Balding is listed to start at Basildon Crown Court on November 24, while the men who have pleaded guilty will be sentenced once the trial has concluded.