A FORMER vicar will appear in court charged with assaulting a police officer and sexually assaulting a paramedic following a road crash.

Three people were taken to hospital after a red Vauxhall Vectra and a black Ford S-Max car collided in Queens Park Avenue in Billericay shortly before 7pm on Saturday, April 19.

The driver of the Vauxhall Vectra, Lee Stephens, was arrested at the scene and is charged with assaulting a police officer, assaulting a male paramedic, sexual touching against a female paramedic, failing to provide a sample of blood for alcohol or drug analysis and using threatening behaviour against a police officer.

The 31-year-old, of Ballyloughan Road in Richhill, County Armagh, had been working as a pastor and living in Billericay at the time of the incident.

Three people were taken to Basildon University Hospital by paramedics following the incident, after sustaining a variety of non-life threatening injuries.

Stephens has been released on Police bail, before his appearance at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 1.