by Angela Cole

Four people have been charged following two police chases.

At about 2am on Monday, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were activated in Maidstone by a car which had been stolen from Chatham the day before.

After a short pursuit, a Fiat Punto was stopped near the town centre.

Minutes later, a Vauxhall Cavalier failed to stop for police on the A20 in the Lenham direction. Following a second pursuit, the vehicle, which had been stolen from Rochester, was stopped in Challock and the driver and passenger were arrested.

Harry Faulkner, 21, of Burma Way, Chatham, has been charged with being carried in a vehicle taken without the owner's consent and has been bailed to Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Friday, June 8.

Jordan McSweeney, 19, of Mercury Close, Rochester, has been charged with taking a vehicle without the owner's consent; driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without third party insurance. He has been remanded to appear before magistrates in Maidstone on Thursday, May 31.

Shane Norley, 24, of John Street, Rochester, has been charged with taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without third party insurance. He has been bailed until Friday, June 8.

Nikita Phillips, 20, also of John Street, Rochester, has been charged with being carried in a vehicle taken without the owner's consent and has been bailed until Tuesday, June 12.