Man Charged After Stolen Excavator Recovered on A34

A man has been charged following the theft of an excavator from a property in North Baddesley earlier this week.

Phil Slater, 32, of Lugsmore Lane in St Helens, Merseyside, has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance.

Police received a report at 12.58pm on Wednesday, 20 August, that an excavator had been stolen from an address on Queens Ride, North Baddesley.

The machine, which was fitted with a tracker, was later traced to the A34 northbound near Newbury. Officers located a broken-down vehicle on the hard shoulder shortly after 2pm and discovered the stolen excavator loaded onto a trailer attached to it.

Slater was arrested at the scene, and both the vehicle and excavator were recovered.

He is due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, 22 August).