A pest who has been harassing and verbally abusing volunteers working in charity shops in Tenterden has been warned about his behaviour by the police.

The middle-aged man was spoken to by a police officer about his behaviour after complaints from several shops in the town centre.

Trevor Hutchings, team support worker at the Tenterden Day Centre Charity Shop in East Cross said: “He kept asking one of our volunteers to model clothes for him.

“He was being a right pain and he was told to clear off,” he added.

Mr Hutchings said volunteers were so upset the charity is now going to install CCTV in the shop and try to prevent anyone working alone in the premises.

After complaints from several shops in the town centre, police spoke to a middle-aged man and warned him about his behaviour.

A team support worker at Tenterden Day Centre Charity Shop in East Cross, High Street, Trevor Hutchings, complained the man had targeted one of his volunteers and confirmed police had been called.

He said: “He was making a nuisance of himself and kept asking one of our volunteers to model clothes for him. He was being a right pain and he was told to clear off.

“Our volunteers were so worried about it that we’re going to install CCTV and we’re trying to eliminate lone working, although the volunteers obviously need comfort breaks.

“This happened a few weeks ago and we haven’t seen him for a while so hopefully he has disappeared from the scene.”

However, Cancer Research UK in the High Street had a visit from the man last week.
A volunteer, who did not want to be named, said: “He has been in three times and was verbally abusive; he was genuinely quite dreadful.

“We are volunteers, not paid staff, and we could do without it. One of the other ladies, who he spoke to a few times, was very distressed.”

The man is also accused of causing trouble in Costa Coffee in the High Street about three weeks ago.

The man has been described as Oriental looking, aged between 35 and 45 and of a stocky build.

“He has been in three times and was verbally abusive; he was genuinely quite dreadful" - charity shop volunteer

Costa Coffee spokesman Stacie Wood said: “We can confirm that a man matching this description has been involved in a verbal situation with one of our team members.

"We have informed the local police and will continue to support their investigation.”

Kent Police spokesman Jane Walker said: “A man has been warned about his behaviour in shops in Tenterden but there have been no assaults reported and no arrest made.

"Those involved have been advised about the action taken.”