A HOMELESS man is due to appear before magistrates after a driver for Asda alleged that his van was taken while he was making deliveries before being found dumped near Southampton.

The driver said he was in Wellington Road, Bournemouth, at 6.35pm on Wednesday, April 26 when the vehicle was allegedly taken.

Police say a tracker device in the van later identified that it had stopped at Brick Lane in Thorney Hill near Bransgore.

The vehicle was later recovered in Totton, detectives said.

William James, who is 47 and of no fixed abode, has now been charged with driving a motor vehicle which has been taken without the owner’s consent, driving whilst disqualified, drink driving, using a motor vehicle on a road or in a public place without third party insurance and attempted theft.

He is due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 11.