A wanted man has taunted police on social media by responding to his own mugshot posted on Facebook.

Essex Police posted an appeal on Facebook on Thursday asking members of the public to help trace Bradley Cooper, 21, from Basildon, who is wanted on suspicion of breaching a harassment order.

Officers also said he had links to Clacton.

Among the comments alluding to him having the same name as the Hangover star, a man named solely as ‘Norman’ wrote: “Got to love the busy bodies”.

Another Facebook user wrote: “Yes Norman also known as Bradley Cooper, writing on your own wanted picture.”

In retaliation to suggestions that his post was sarcastic, ‘Norman’ wrote: “If that was the case I would have wrote something like "if only you were as good at catching people as you were at taking mugshots lol”.

“I'm innocent and harmless.”

He claimed he was calling other Facebook users “busy bodies”.

Essex Police have confirmed that Cooper had not yet been arrested.

A force spokesman said: "Essex Police regularly uses social media to encourage members of the public to help us find people wanted for offences.

"We occasionally get this sort of reaction from people who are wanted, but we will continue to use social media because it is such a valuable resource and work is ongoing to arrest this man."

Australian man Daniel Damon, 25, who was wanted for not answering bail for traffic and drug matters, made headlines in July when he contacted Victoria Police on Facebook to ask them to use a better photo.

He wrote: “Can you use a better photo? This is a horrible mugshot.”

Victoria Police responded: “Hi Daniel, please visit your nearest police station and we’ll arrange for a new photo to be taken!”

Anyone with information on Cooper’s whereabouts can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.