Man charged following theft of shoes worth £23k

A man has been charged following reports that shoes worth nearly £23,000 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 £23,000."

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