A metal thief who caused more than £33,000 of damage after stripping copper from a business in Paddock Wood has been jailed.

Nathan Mahoney used an electric saw to remove the piping from eight industrial refrigerators at an address in Eldon Way.

Mahoney, 39, broke into the site on December 16 last year. When he was later caught by police, he was also found with weapons in his vehicle.

The business reported further offences at the same place on February 10, when an air conditioning unit, which had been rendered useless after the first theft, was also stolen.

On May 22, officers then pursued a flatbed truck, which was seen driving dangerously in the Wrotham Heath area.

Mahoney was behind the wheel and was caught by police after he abandoned the vehicle in West Malling and tried to make a run for it.

While searching the truck, weapons such as a lock knife and a kitchen knife were seized.

"Prolific offenders such as Mahoney are a real burden to local businesses..."

Mahoney, of Acorn Close, Five Oak Green, was arrested and remanded in custody.

He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to criminal damage and theft - relating to the offences on December 16 - as well as dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

He denied two further counts of possessing a knife in a public place but was found guilty after a trial.

On Friday, Mahoney was sentenced to one year and ten months’ imprisonment.

He was also disqualified from driving for almost two years and will need to take an extended driving test.

PC Kady Cartwright, of the Tunbridge Wells Community Policing Team, said: "Prolific offenders such as Mahoney are a real burden to local businesses and their actions often have a profound and lasting impact within the local communities where they commit crime.

"The cost of repairs and loss of stock resulting from the damage he caused was estimated to be more £33,000.

"Combating crimes such as theft and burglary remains a high priority for Kent Police and I’d like to reassure residents that we have teams throughout the county, dedicated to identifying and arresting offenders like Mahoney."

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