A woman has been charged with wasting police time after she allowed a missing man to stay at her home.

Dave Forward, 32, was reported missing on Boxing Day evening after last being seen at The Wharf in Tonbridge at 4pm on Christmas Eve.

His disappearance sparked a major search and police issued his photo and launched an appeal to find him.

He was found safe and well at a house in Tonbridge yesterday afternoon, almost two weeks after he was reported missing.

He had been allowed to stay there by the woman, who is someone he knows.

Officers have since issued her with a penalty notice for wasting police time and she will have to pay a fine of £90.

A spokesman yesterday thanked members of the public for their help in trying to find Mr Forward.