The owner of an Indian restaurant says his business has suffered “a lot of damage” after a car crashed into the side of it following a “six-second” police pursuit.

Officers were initially called shortly after midnight yesterday (November 12) to reports a car had rammed into the front of a Sports Direct in Sittingbourne High Street.

They attended the scene, however, the vehicle had fled before they arrived.

An investigation was launched and later the same morning officers on patrol in High Halden asked a motorist to stop.

It did not stop and following a six-second pursuit, the driver lost control on a bend in Biddenden Road and crashed through the outdoor area of the Raja of Kent.

Speaking to KentOnline, the owner of the Indian restaurant, Rezaul Kabir Raja, said: “They crashed through the fence and storage block causing me to lose stock.

“It has caused a lot of damage. We have managed to open today but a lot of things need to be fixed. It will cost quite a bit of money.”

Mr Raja said he is waiting for his insurance company to assess the damage before he knows how much it will cost to repair.

Following the incident, officers from the Kent Roads Policing Unit said on X: “This one clearly is not cut out for a life of crime. Having unsuccessfully rammed into a shop, the vehicle was sighted.

“A pursuit lasted only six seconds before he lost it on the first bend and got stuck.”

A man from Sittingbourne was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop for an officer and possession of controlled drugs.

Constables also seized some suspected nitrous oxide canisters.

The suspect, 19, was later bailed to return to the police station on February 4 pending further investigations.