A man who dramatically fled the dock after being told he was being recalled to prison has been arrested.

William Harbour, of Staplehurst, had arrived at Maidstone Crown Court to answer bail for alleged theft and burglary offences.

But after denying the four offences, he was expecting to be given his freedom pending his trial in July.

It was then that the judge, Recorder Ed Burge QC was told by a probation officer that a decision had been taken to recall the 22-year-old to prison until November.

Harbour, of Hegarty Way, began arguing with the probation official, shouting: "How long...how long?"

As the judge ordered him to sit down while lawyers discussed the situation, Harbour stood on a chair and vaulted the 4ft guard rail onto the CPS bench.

As a CPS official and court staff looked on in astonishment, Harbour smashed the screen divide between CPS and barristers before running past crying members of his family and into the corridor.

Harbour then raced down two flights of stairs and out of the building before security officials could enforce a lockdown.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to theft of registration plates in 2019 and burglary in Langton Green.

He was arrested on Wednesday around 25 miles from the court in Faversham.

A police spokesman said: "At 10.55am on Wednesday, February 9, a 20-year-old man from Staplehurst was arrested in Faversham on suspicion of remaining unlawfully at large and for recall to prison following revocation of his licence."