A criminal who had allegedly escaped from HMP Kirkham and was heading to Chatham has been found and charged.

Dean Cotter was said to have absconded from the prison in Preston and Lancashire police said he was likely to be heading for Medway.

He was serving 13 years for breaking into a pensioner's house and threatening him with a machete.

The 29-year-old was arrested after a disturbance in the Brompton Hill area on New Year's Eve.

He was charged with escaping lawful custody and remanded to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on January 30.