A 38-year-old man accused of threatening shop workers with an axe has appeared in court.

Benjamin Clapp, of no fixed address, is said to have assaulted a Tesco Express employee in Canterbury and attempted to steal food and alcohol.

Clapp was arrested earlier this month at Tesco Express in New Dover Road, Canterbury, an hour after he is alleged to have threatened a shop assistant with an axe one mile away in Londis.

Charged with three counts of threatening a person with an offensive weapon, two counts of theft and one assault charge, he appeared at Margate Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

He entered not guilty pleas for the trio of offensive weapon charges and withheld pleas for the rest.

Police were called to Tesco Express on the evening of April 10.

Speaking at the hearing, prosecutor Neil Sweeney told the court Clapp attempted to steal "various food and alcohol products to the sum of £12.47".

He then allegedly threatened the Tesco Express workers when they confronted him and and is said to have assaulted one of the members of staff.

Police later arrested Clapp at the store just before 9.15pm.

An hour before the alleged altercation in Tesco, Clapp is said to have also brandished an axe at the Londis store in St Dunstan's Street.

He is accused of stealing five scratch cards worth £48 from an unmanned counter at the shop.

Upon hearing the details behind the charges, magistrates agreed to send the trial to crown court.

Clapp, who was represented by solicitor Ian Bond, is due to next appear at Canterbury Crown Court in May.

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