A man has been charged after meat, washing powder and air fresheners were reported stolen from a Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Robert Smith, of College Road Sittingbourne, is accused of multiple shoplifting offences.

Last Thursday (August 17) a quantity of meat was reported stolen from Morrisons in Milton Regis High Street.

Two days later, washing powder and air fresheners were allegedly taken from Tesco in Canterbury Road, but were discarded after a man was challenged by an off-duty police officer.

Smith was later arrested and taken into custody.

On Sunday, August 20, he was charged with five counts of theft.

These included additional reports of shoplifting at Tesco in Canterbury Road on May 27, plus at Superdrug in Sittingbourne High Street and Sainsbury's in the Avenue of Remembrance on July 31.

Items targeted included meat and electric toothbrushes.

The 38-year-old appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday (August 21) where he was bailed to a hearing at the same court on December 8.