A "relentless thief" who stole six vehicles in the space of four months has been jailed.

Mark Scamp took five bikes and a car from locations across Kent between January and April this year.

The 34-year-old, of Dickens Road, Canterbury, was arrested with the help of the public following an appeal and is now starting a 26-month sentence.

Scamp’s first theft took place in Southwall Road, Deal on January 11, when he stole a dirt bike while its owner was visiting a friend.

The following month, on February 7, the owner of another bike found someone had attempted to hot-wire it while it was parked in New Dover Road, Canterbury, and Scamp was later identified on CCTV footage.

On March 3, Scamp stole a Honda motorbike from a car park near University Road, Canterbury, before stealing a car from Hythe on March 18, which was then involved in a collision in Goodnestone Road in the city 11 days later.

"Scamp is a relentless thief..."

He turned his attention to Hythe again the following month, stealing two motorbikes from Kingfisher Avenue on April 13 and 14.

His final vehicle theft offence took place in Tunbridge Wells on April 17, when he stole a scooter from Hawkenbury Road.

Police issued a 'most wanted' appeal for Scamp. With help from the public - which led to a helicopter and dogs unit scouring near the Howes Barracks in Canterbury - Scamp was arrested in the city on May 5.

He admitted six counts of taking a motor vehicle and one count of vehicle interference. He also admitted five counts of theft from shops, relating to the shoplifting of alcohol from a supermarket in Ashford over the same period.

PC Adele Tyrer said: "Scamp is a relentless thief who has taken property from victims around the county.

"I am pleased the detailed evidence put together by our officers has seen him forced to admit a large number of offences, and I am thankful to the public for helping us arrest him.

"Scamp's repeated offending would have caused a lot of upset to residents and I'm glad this prison sentence has stopped that."

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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