Man charged following theft of shoes worth £23k

A man has been charged following reports that shoes worth nearly GBP23,000 were stolen from a lorry near Gillingham.

Michael Tremarco, 35, of St Agnes Drive, Canvey Island, Essex, was charged with theft, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Kent Police said the alleged incident happened at a service station on the M2 in the early hours of Friday.

A security guard who was working at the premises spotted suspicious activity near some parked vehicles and alerted the force.

Kent Police said officers attended the scene where a lorry had allegedly been targeted while the driver was asleep in the cab.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: "Patrols were immediately deployed along the London-bound carriageway of the motorway and a lorry was later stopped in Cadogan Terrace, Stratford, London.

"A man was arrested and constables also seized boxes of shoes worth almost GBP23,000."

Mr Tremarco is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on 9 May.