A grandad who stole firewood collected for sale by two children has met them to apologise and pay compensation.

The 61-year-old and his grandson pinched two bags of kindling from outside a house in Bishopsbourne, near Canterbury. last month.

CCTV footage showed the man driving away in a red Peugeot 407, which was later spotted by automatic number plate recognition cameras Folkestone and traced to an address in Ash.

He voluntarily attended Canterbury police station last week and admitted to stealing the wood from siblings Cloe and Lewis Banks. which was valued at £8.

Following a discussion with the children’s parents, it was agreed that the man should make amends by meeting the family at the police station to say sorry.

Their mother, Debbie Tapley said: “We were really surprised when the police called to say they had caught them because it was such a small amount that we didn’t think we would hear anything again.

“But they have been brilliant and said they pursued it because of the children.
“When we met them, the Chloe and Lewis told them exactly how they felt and the grandfather seemed very humble and was shaking. He was with his daughter, who was driving the car and his grandson who helped steal the wood.

“She did most of the talking and insisted her father wasn’t a thief, claiming he didn't see the sign, which was ridiculous. But the police had to remind her that he was and had admitted it.

“Fortunately, it hasn’t put the children off chopping and selling firewood and they will also be selling sacks of it at the Stelling Minnis school Christmas fete".

Police Sgt Martin Williams said: “The man who took it clearly did not consider their feelings but has now accepted what he did was wrong. As well as apologising to the family, he also agreed to pay the children £20 each as a way of making amends for his actions.

“Evidence shows that restorative justice is a very powerful tool and an alternative to criminalising people for low-level crimes. This gives police officers the opportunity to use their discretion to sort issues out rather than arresting people unnecessarily.”