Four men will appear in court accused of plotting to steal more than £100,000 of transit vans.

Lee Chapman and James Steel, both of Maidstone, Steven Boden, of Canterbury, and Wayne Byrne, of Dagenham in Essex, are accused of conspiring to take 23 vehicles from a number of locations throughout Kent.

Steel, 30, of Ashford Road, Harrietsham; Chapman, of Bell Road, Park Wood; and 32-year-old Byrne appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday in person while Boden, 41, of Bolts Hill, Chartham, appeared via video link from Elmley Prison.

Chapman, 24, is also due at the court tomorrow charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Due to the value of the vans and severity of the alleged crime magistrates sent all four defendants to Maidstone Crown Court, where they will next appear on April 17. No pleas were entered.

Chapman, Steel and Byrne were released on conditional bail with curfews imposed to run between 10pm and 7am, 11pm and 8am and 8.30pm and 7am respectively.