Two men have been charged with theft after almost £600 worth of goods were stolen from a Tesco and several other shops in a town centre.

Items including confectionary, groceries, laundry products and bottles of booze were taken from several Swale businesses and a Rainham supermarket.

Between Thursday, October 12, and Sunday, October 29, police received six reports that property had been stolen from stores in Sittingbourne town centre.

The value of the items exceeded £400 and on Monday, November 6, a man was arrested.

Robert Smith, of College Road, Sittingbourne was later charged by officers from the Swale Victim Based Crime Team with six counts of theft.

In a separate investigation, five thefts were reported at Tesco in the Rainham Shopping Centre between Monday, October 30, and Friday, November 3.

Bottles of spirits were stolen with a value of around £160.

On Monday, November 6, a suspect was arrested.

Lewis O’Brien, of High Street, Chatham was charged with five counts of theft.

Smith, aged 39, and O’Brien, aged 33, both appeared before Medway magistrates on Tuesday, November 7.

Smith was conditionally bailed to appear before the same court on November 24 and O’Brien pleaded guilty to all the indictments and was recalled to prison.

O’Brien will also be required to pay £165 in compensation.