A Tonbridge man has narrowly avoided jail after shoplifting and committing driving offences.

On November 1 Richard Green, of St Mary's Road, stole a Blue Ray box set worth £39.99 from a shop in Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

The 25-year-old also stole an audio sound book and a Bluetooth headset worth £209.98 from a shop in Grosvenor Road.

On November 20 Green took a Ford Focus without the owner's consent and drove it in Mount Ephraim while disqualified and with no insurance.

He pleaded guilty to all offences.

The bench at Medway Magistrates' Court sentenced Green to 180 days in prison, suspended for two years and banned him from driving for 36 months.

He was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and pay £315.