A homeless man has appeared in court after tobacco was stolen and a member of staff threatened in a raid on a convenience store earlier this week.

Danny Thompson, 25, of no fixed address, is accused of telling the employee he would stab them if they didn't hand over the goods during the incident at Martin's, in Darnley Road, Strood, at about 6.30pm on Tuesday.

Thompson was arrested yesterday and has now been charged with robbery. He appeared before Medway Magistrates' Crow Court this morning where he was remanded in custody to next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, July 19.

Police spokesman Jo Pattison said: "Kent Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime and those associated with it. Our officers are proactively patrolling our public spaces at all times of the day, and will respond to anybody acting suspiciously.

"Anybody who unlawfully carries a knife or other weapon should expect to be stopped and arrested."

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