Suspect appears in court after string of alleged robberies and burglary in Ashford
Published: 16:06, 16 December 2021
Updated: 18:12, 16 December 2021
Police investigating a string of robberies have made an arrest.
Officers received reports of a number of bag snatches in the Kennington area of Ashford earlier this month.
A woman in her 40s alleged a man had tried grabbing her bag in an alleyway alongside the Heathfield Estate near Canterbury Road at about 7.40am on December 3.
She resisted and overpowered the would-be-mugger who fled empty-handed towards the estate.
Moments later a woman in her 70s, who was walking down Cemetery Lane towards the cycle path crossing the M20 at Junction 9, was dragged to the ground as a man reportedly tried and failed to take her purse.
Another woman in her late 70s walked along Bockhanger Lane at about 10.20am when an alleged robber took her belongings, including cash, keys and cards, and fled towards Grosvenor Road.
Suspect Donte Charles-Lauder has been charged with one count of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery in relation to the events of December 3.
The 24-year-old, of Bloomsbury Way in Ashford, was also charged with a burglary near Heathfield Road on December 8, possession of a bladed weapon and a further charge of robbery of a wallet on December 7.
He appeared before Folkestone Magistrates' Court earlier today and was remanded in custody to appear before Canterbury Crown Court on January 17.
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