A man has been charged after more than £5,000 worth of goods were stolen from high street shops.

Over nearly three months Marks and Spencer, Next, Co-op and Tesco were targeted at sites across West Kent.

Between Saturday, September 23 and Thursday, December 21, stores in Maidstone, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Snodland and Sevenoaks reported stolen goods.

Meat, alcohol, clothing and other items were found to be missing, with a value totalling more than £5,700.

Yesterday (January 4) a man was arrested by local policing team constables.

Lee Plant, of West Park Road, Maidstone, was later charged by investigators from the Maidstone Victim Based Crime Team with 16 counts of theft.

The 43-year-old was remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court today (January 5).