A suspect has been charged after an attempted cash machine theft left a shop front ruined.

Last Monday the Co-op in The Row, New Ash Green, was seriously damaged after a vehicle deliberately reversed into it and an attempt was made to get into the ATM on the side of the building.

It’s believed a green Mitsubishi Shogun with silver bumpers and a spare wheel on the back was used but had left the scene by the time police were called at 5.20am.

Nothing was stolen, although the supermarket had to shut for the day.

The raid happened just weeks after the supermarket was relaunched after a two-month makeover.

After an investigation, Leonard Jones was arrested on Friday.

Jones, 40, of Selbys, Lingfield, in Surrey, was charged with burglary and with aggravated vehicle taking and causing more than £5,000 of damage to the property.

He was further charged with driving without a license and driving without insurance.

Jones was remanded to a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court today.