Between 18 August and 25 September 2023, Kent Police received four reports that goods valued at more than £500 has been stolen from Tesco on Farleigh Hill. During two of the incidents, it is alleged members of staff were assaulted as a suspect left the premises without paying.
On 4 September, two employees were allegedly assaulted as they attempted to prevent a man from entering Tesco in Loose Road, and on Sunday 24 September, a shop worker was reportedly abused as they sought to intervene following a theft at the same business.
A suspect was arrested on Monday 25 September after patrols from the town’s neighbourhood task force were called to the theft of confectionary from a Co-op in Loose Road.
Joseph Daniels, of College Road, Maidstone was later charged by investigators from the Maidstone Victim Based Crime Team with six counts of shoplifting, four counts of common assault and a public order offence. Mr Daniels, aged 38, appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 28 September, where he was bailed with conditions to a hearing at Maidstone Court Crown Court on 16 May 2024.
