A man has been charged on suspicion of driving a stolen Mercedes within an hour of it being reported stolen.

Police located the vehicle, which was stolen from King's Hill, West Malling on Wednesday evening, and followed it into Essex.

Officers were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle when they spotted the car on the M25.

The MercedesGLC 220 Coupe was being driven with a false number plate.

Officers indicated for the driver to stop at a layby but he allegedly drove off at an excessive speed.

It was reported the car was being driven in a dangerous manner until the driver stopped in Essex and left on foot.

Officers searched the area and detained a man who was taken into custody. A rucksack with number plates and tools inside was also seized from inside the car.

Vilmantas Raudys, of no fixed address, was later charged by investigators with the suspected theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

The 31-year-old appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on February 23.