A man has been charged with shoplifting offences after items worth more than £800 were stolen from stores in the Basingstoke area.

Officers received reports that items worth a total of £889.49 had been stolen from a number of shops between 11 March and 25 March.

The stolen items included meat products and household items and were taken from Co-op in Rooksdown, M&S in Chineham, One Stop in Oakley and Co-op in Old Basing.

Officers launched an investigation and arrested a man yesterday (31 March).

Michael Brewer, 37, of Quilter Road, Basingstoke, has since been charged with seven counts of theft from a shop.

He has been bailed with conditions and is due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on 17 April.

On 30 March, another man was charged in connection with a report that items had been stolen from M&S in Chineham on 11 March.

Michael Paice, 46, of Bishopswood Road, Tadley, was charged with one count of theft from a shop.

He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court yesterday (31 March) and pleaded guilty. He is due to appear at the same court on 15 May.