A man today admitted damaging archaeological and historic sites in Kent and other counties.

Train guard Mark Staples, 39, of Herbert Road, Swanley, appeared at Dartford Magistrates charged with two counts of damaging a protected monument and the theft of a segment of a mosaic from sites protected under the Ancient Monuments Act.

Staples was given a three-year conditional discharge.

His offences included damage to Thurnham Castle, in Maidstone and Lympne Fort, Hythe, as well as the theft of a piece of mosaic at Spoonley Roman Villa in Gloucestshire.

According to Police, Staples started visiting Heritage sites around March 2007and travelled to sites in Kent, Sussex and Gloucester.