Wanted man asks police to remove unflattering mugshot from Facebook

A man wanted in connection with an assault in Wales has asked local police to take down an unflattering mugshot of him they posted in a social media appeal.

The image of 35-year-old Wayne Esmonde was posted on the South Wales Police Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon.

Although he is apparently on the run, Esmonde found time to comment on the page, asking for the image to be taken down.

“I am him. Not a very flattering mugshot,” Esmonde wrote on the police force’s Facebook page.

“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.”

However, the force insists the image will remain until Esmonde, who is wanted in connection with an assault in Swansea on July 18, surrenders to authorities.

Facebook users found Esmonde’s expression highly amusing.

One asked “what have you been up to now?” while another comment describes his wide eyes as “like two p*ss holes in the snow.”

Several questioned whether Esmonde had been using drugs given the size of his pupils, while another quipped: “Shouldn’t be too hard to find, with eyes like that the whites of them would light up half of South Wales.”