A man has been charged after a spate of suspected shop thefts and an assault on a supermarket worker.

The Tesco Express in Loose Road, Maidstone was targeted by a man wearing a face mask last Monday (May 15).

He is alleged to have stolen a chilled box of food worth more than £50, and reportedly assaulted a member of staff upon leaving the store.

Then on Friday (May 19) a shop in London Road, West Malling reported the theft of meat and confectionary items valued at around £250.

The latest theft reported was on Sunday (May 21) when police were told £80 worth of items were stolen from the WH Smith at the Maidstone services on the M20.

Officers responding to the report spotted a suspicious car travelling into the county town. They followed it and arrested a man standing near the vehicle after it came to a halt in Trinity Way.

Joseph Daniels, of College Road, Maidstone was later charged with three thefts and an assault. He was also charged with failing to provide a specimen for a breath test.

The 37-year-old appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 22) where he was remanded to a hearing at the same court on May 30.