Robbers advertised a stolen phone for sale on social media, only for it to be collected in person by a police sergeant.

Abid Rafiq and Paul Appleford targeted the victim in Northfleet High Street in March 2020 before an unsuspecting Appleford handed it over to the police officer a day later.

Now both have been jailed for close to 12 years between them.

Woolwich Crown Court heard the offence took place in the High Street at around 8.15pm on March 28.

The victim, who was 19 at the time, feared he was being followed by the men and picked up his pace in an attempt to avoid them.

Rafiq caught up with him, grabbed the front of his coat and asked ‘what have you got?’

Appleford then appeared, and the pair escorted the victim to a cash machine in Stonebridge Road, demanding he withdraw £200.

When the duo realised the victim did not have enough in his account, Rafiq reached into his coat pocket and stole his mobile phone. The victim then escaped.

The next day, the victim used an online feature to track his phone to the Hampton Crescent area of Gravesend. Additional checks on social media showed the handset was being advertised for sale for £200.

Police were then told the seller had agreed to sell it to one of the victim’s relatives, so a detective from North Kent CID went to the address where the deal was supposed to take place.

As Appleford met who he thought was the buyer, he was arrested.

A review of CCTV and inquiries by investigators into Appleford’s regular associates led to the arrest of Rafiq later the same day. Both men have been in custody since being charged.

While in prison, Paul Appleford conspired with his brother, Mark Appleford, to lean on the robbery victim to drop the case.

Mark Appleford called the victim and offered him £2,000 to withdraw his statement.

The victim refused and after detectives proved the call had been made from a phone number registered to Mark Appleford, he too was charged.

Rafiq, 38, of Hampton Crescent, Gravesend, admitted robbery and was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.

Paul Appleford, 35, of Brunswick Walk, Gravesend, admitted robbery and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for six years.

"Both men’s willingness to use violence shows them to be a considerable danger to the public..."

Mark Appleford, 28, of Hampton Crescent, Gravesend, admitted perverting the course of justice and received a six month prison sentence.

DC Jess Summers, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the case, said: "The victim of this crime was subjected to a prolonged ordeal and would have had every reason to believe they were going to be seriously assaulted if they did not comply with the offender’s requests.

"Both men’s willingness to use violence shows them to be a considerable danger to the public and I am pleased that a prison sentence has been imposed."

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