Model Turned Burglar Busted in Tunbridge Wells Crime Spree
From Runway to Robbery
A would-be model has swapped catwalk for crime scene. Shakane Charles, 21, has been hit with eight charges after a string of burglaries and thefts across Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook.
Car Stolen, Property Ripped Off
- On 2 January 2020, Charles allegedly stole a car from Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells after swiping the keys from inside the owner’s home.
- The vehicle was later found in Penshurst, but valuables like sunglasses and wireless headphones had gone missing.
Number Plate Theft Fuels Petrol Station Theft
- On 5 January, number plates were nicked off a VW Polo parked in Angley Road, Cranbrook.
- That same day, a Vauxhall Corsa was spotted sporting the stolen plates while filling up on fuel unpaid at stations in Cranbrook and Pembury.
Arrest and Court Appearance
Charles was arrested on 6 March 2020 at his Goudhurst home and charged with burglary, theft, two counts of making off without payment, and four driving offences—including driving uninsured.
He was remanded in custody and appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 7 March. He was granted bail to return to Maidstone Crown Court on 6 April 2020.
Stay tuned for updates on this dramatic fall from grace in West Kent.
