Two men have been charged after a woman reported her handbag was stolen and her cards used for a shopping spree.

The victim was walking along New Road towards Rochester on Tuesday evening (October 31) when two men approached her from behind.

It is alleged the woman was then assaulted and her handbag stolen.

Bank cards that had been in the bag were reportedly used to make fraudulent purchases at local shops later the same day.

Officers from the Kent Crime Squad examined the CCTV footage in the area and two men were arrested the following day.

They also recovered suspected stolen cash and a bank card.

Tomas Vachlenko and Andon Covey, both of Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham, were later charged with robbery.

Vachlenko was also charged with four counts of fraud and Covey with three.

The suspects, both aged 23, have been remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court today (November 2).