Marcus Richards, 55, of Canterbury Street, Gillingham, has been charged with seven offences — including acquiring explosives without a valid certificate — after Kent Police recovered a baton, knuckle duster, taser and seven railway detonators during a search of his property. All charges are unproven.
Kent Police were called to Canterbury Street, Gillingham, just before 1pm on Saturday 15 August 2026 after reports of a disturbance, in which it was alleged an assault had taken place and a vehicle had been damaged. A man was arrested at the scene and is alleged to have been violent during the arrest.
A search of the property turned up a baton, a knuckle duster and a taser inside the building. In a garden shed, officers also found seven railway detonators — small devices clipped to rail tracks that produce a loud bang to alert train drivers.
Richards faces seven charges in total: criminal damage, acquiring explosives without a valid certificate, possession of a weapon for the discharge of an electrical incapacitation device, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, using threatening words and behaviour, assault of an emergency worker, and common assault.
He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday 17 August 2026 and was released on conditional bail. His next hearing is set for 29 January 2027 at the same court. All charges remain alleged and unproven.