Kent Police received a call shortly before midnight on Tuesday 2 July 2024 alleging that an attempt had been made by a man to steal alcohol from a supermarket on Sturry Road.
It was reported that a security guard working at the store, who had challenged the man, had been threatened before the man left the shop with the items for which he had not paid.
Officers attended and shortly afterwards detained a man nearby. A search led to alcohol being seized along with a small quantity of white powder, believed to be cocaine.
On Wednesday 3 July, officers from Canterbury’s Victim Based Crime Team charged Stephen McGinty, 37, with two counts of assault on an emergency worker, possession of a class A drug, theft and a public order offence.
Mr McGinty, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody to appear before Margate Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 4 July.