Chief Constable’s Crime Squad secure arrests, charges and convictions in June
A knife-wielding robber who threatened to stab an elderly woman during a shop robbery in Gravesend and a burglar who targeted a Gillingham home while the occupants were in bed are just some of the people handed jail terms in June, thanks to work from the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad.
The team, made up of uniformed officers and detectives who primarily investigate burglary and robbery offences secured prison sentences totalling 12 years and nine months during June.
A prolific offender was one of those. Michael Williams went to an address near Watling Street, Gillingham and gained entry to the premises while the occupants were in bed. He stole property including computer tablets, phones, wallets, bank cards and a handbag before leaving the scene.
Local CCTV footage placed Williams in the area, and enquiries revealed he had tried to withdraw money using one of the stolen bank cards.
He pleaded guilty and the 44-year-old from Napier Road in Gillingham was jailed for four years and seven months.
The sentence included one year and three months for breaching a suspended sentence and Williams will have to serve half the jail term before being considered for release on licence.
Gavin Jarvis from Palmer Avenue, Gravesend was jailed for three years and four months when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday 27 June.
While wearing a balaclava, Jarvis threatened to hurt an elderly customer while demanding cash from a till at a newsagent in Livingstone Road, Gravesend.
He demanded the cashier hand over the money. He went onto threaten to hurt the woman as well as assault an employee of the shop. He then grabbed a quantity of cash from the till before running from the shop.
CCTV enquiries placed him at the scene.
Detective Inspector Danielle Driscoll, who leads the team said: ‘These results clearly show there is no place in our county for people who seek to steal from homes or threaten victims with unlawful violence.’
Over the course of June, the Crime Squad arrested 30 people on suspicion of offences that included theft and burglary.
Among those who went on to be charged included three men who are accused of stealing high value cars in Kent, Sussex and Essex.
Radu Rostas, 30, of Felixstowe Road, Eltham; Ionel Anghel, 31, of Bexley Lane, Dartford; and Geoni Rostas, 27, of Sheridan Road, Belvedere, have all been charged with conspiring to steal vehicles and conspiring to commit fraud in relation to the sale of stolen cars and will appear at court later this month.
The team also secured the charge of a third suspect as part of an investigation into a series of burglaries in Maidstone, Aylesford and Dartford.
James Campbell, of Stephenson Avenue, Tilbury, Essex was charged with nine counts of burglary, an attempted burglary and two motoring offences.
These included crimes also reported in areas of Essex. The 29-year-old was remanded to appear at court at a later date.
These were among 74 charges authorised in June.
DI Driscoll added: ‘The purpose of our team is to provide the best possible service to people who have unfortunately been targeted by offenders who think nothing of stealing from other people and, on some occasions, using violence.
‘It is very pleasing that we are continuing to achieve meaningful results, and this includes putting together robust cases that ensure people we suspect of committing crime are remanded in custody ahead of further court appearances.’