A man accused of stealing alcohol and food from several shops across east Kent has appeared in court.

Billy Bird is suspected of raiding the shelves at stores in Faversham, Whitstable and Herne Bay.

He has also been charged with two counts of assault and obstructing a police officer.

Bird, 21, of Elverland Lane in Ospringe, appeared before magistrates in Medway on Friday and will return to court later this month.

He has been charged with five incidents between June 15 and July 11.

They relate to a reported theft at the Co-op in Oxford Street, Whitstable on June 15 when booze were taken.

A second incident on June 22 at Tesco in Herne Bay reportedly saw alcohol and a sandwich stolen.

Bird has also been accused of stealing alcohol and food from the Co-op in Faversham on June 28 and 29.

He was also charged with stealing alcohol from Morrisons in Faversham on July 11.

This week, Morrisons managers revealed they would be installing extra security features in the Faversham store to tackle crime as part of a £1 million overhaul.

Bird was charged by police on Friday and appeared at Medway Magistrates Court on the same day.

He will appear before magistrates in Maidstone on August 15.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham