Two men have been charged after multiple thefts, including one where a Sports Direct employee was cut on the leg after confronting suspected shoplifters.

The raid on the store in Gillingham High Street was followed by more similar thefts at large retailers across Medway.

Multiple Nike fleeces were stolen from Sports Direct in Gillingham on Tuesday, November 12, where the employee was assaulted.

Then on Friday, November 15, coats, jackets and other clothing worth more than £2,200 were stolen from Footlocker in Chatham’s Pentagon Centre and TK Maxx in Chatham High Street.

Four days later, on Tuesday, November 19, a further attempt to steal items from Sports Direct in Strood High Street was foiled by staff. The suspect fled to a waiting car.

Investigators made inquiries into a vehicle thought to be connected to the incidents. That led to a search of an address where a suspect was detained and two wraps of cocaine were seized.

Harrison Franklin who lives in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, was arrested. The 23-year-old was later charged with five counts of theft, assault and possession of a class A drug.

Peter Cotton, of Isaac Blake Place in Rochester, was also later arrested.

The 46-year-old was charged with three counts of theft at Hempstead Valley shopping centre.

This related to items worth more than £1,900 reportedly stolen from JD Sports, Marks and Spencer, plus TK Maxx between Saturday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 19

He was also charged with making off without payment for fuel at a petrol station in Rochester.

Both men were remanded to Medway Magistrates' Court.

Franklin was released on conditional bail yesterday (Thursday, November 21) to next appear at the same court on February 4.

Cotton is due at hearing today (Friday, November 22).