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Knifeman jailed after robbing teenagers near Bedgebury forest, Cranbrook Co-op and Staplehurst Skatepark

A “cold and calculated” knifeman who terrorised six teenagers in three menacing robberies has been jailed.

Wielding what was described by one as a machete, Cameron Jeffery and an unidentified accomplice targeted their victims within just a few miles radius of his Hawkhurst home over two consecutive nights.

Cameron Jeffery, 21, has been jailed. Picture: Kent Police
Cameron Jeffery, 21, has been jailed. Picture: Kent Police

Maidstone Crown Court heard that having “patrolled and prowled” the area, he robbed a 19-year-old as he sat in his car with his girlfriend in Staplehurst in the early hours of August 4. The vehicle was also damaged.

Three boys aged 17 were then mugged less than 24 hours later as they were chatting on a bench in Cranbrook High Street.

Two of them told police how a knife blade was chillingly held to their faces as aggressive demands for their belongings were made by their two balaclava-wearing assailants.

Then, late at night on August 5, two 17-year-olds carrying camping gear were robbed near Bedgebury Forest.

The court also heard that less than a month earlier Jeffery, 21, had hoodwinked the seller of a £1,750 Nissan X Trail into letting him test drive the vehicle, only to abandon it in a severely damaged state.

One of the offences took place in Cranbrook High Street. Picture: Google Maps
One of the offences took place in Cranbrook High Street. Picture: Google Maps

The elderly owner was not only left with a car worth just £350 scrap but also having to pay £320 for its recovery.

Jeffery, who has six previous convictions for 23 offences including assault, battery and affray, was arrested on August 6 and gave a ‘no comment’ interview.

But he later admitted four offences of robbery, two of having a bladed article and one of theft, and asked for a further two robbery charges to be taken into consideration.

At the young crook’s sentencing hearing on Thursday (December 12) prosecutor Craig Evans told the court the first victim was parked up with his girlfriend at Staplehurst Skatepark in Headcorn Road at about 1am on August 4 when a car pulled up, blocking them in.

The couple were then confronted with what the victim said was a machete. Jeffery however later claimed it was a knife, and the court was shown an image of a weapon seized by police which had an 8in blade, serrated on one edge and tapering to a point.

Two 17-year-olds carrying camping gear were robbed near Bedgebury Forest
Two 17-year-olds carrying camping gear were robbed near Bedgebury Forest

Demands to hand over “everything he had” were made, said Mr Evans, before the muggers fled with a Gymshark rucksack, airpods and a powerbank.

But when the victim went to drive away, he saw to his horror that Jeffery’s car had pulled over and blocked the road after discovering the bag did not contain the teen’s wallet as they had been led to believe.

There was then a second confrontation in which his windscreen was smashed before he and his girlfriend were eventually able to escape.

The victim later told police that he had been “paralysed with fear” when faced with the knife and not only felt helpless and terrified but also deeply concerned for his and his partner’s safety.

He also described the damage to his car as a “callous and senseless” attack, and the offender as “cold and calculated.”

Jeffery made threats while wielding a knife. Stock image
Jeffery made threats while wielding a knife. Stock image

“This person shattered our lives with no regard for the terror, pain and long-term damage they inflicted,” he said in his victim impact statement.

“This robbery didn’t just take my belongings, it also took our safety and peace.”

It was at about 11.30pm on August 4 that Jeffery targeted the three young friends in a car park outside a Co-op in Cranbrook.

Again, a vehicle pulled up and he was one of two assailants who decamped, pulling on balaclavas or hoods and brandishing knives.

Demands such as “empty your f***ing pockets”, “what have you got for me?” and “give me all your stuff” were accompanied by a threat to stab them before a blade was pushed into the chest of one boy and against the cheeks of the other two.

The entrance to Stapehurst Skatepark. Picture: Google
The entrance to Stapehurst Skatepark. Picture: Google

However, the prosecutor told the court that in pleading guilty, Jeffery did so on the basis he was not the one who made threats to hurt anyone or had touched anyone with a knife.

Belongings nabbed included an iPhone 11, house keys and airpods before the muggers patted the trio down, laughed and drove off.

The teens later told police they felt “angry” at being robbed and unable to do anything to stop it. One added he had feared being seriously harmed.

The following evening, two 17-year-olds were walking back from Bedgebury Forest when a car began to tail them. A passenger then leant out of a window wielding a knife and making aggressive demands for their belongings, which were handed over.

On this occasion, Jeffery said he was the driver of the vehicle and did not have a knife.

"He was brought up as a good kid but has hung with the wrong crowd and been sucked into something…"

However, the court heard that on July 9, Jeffery had stolen the Nissan after it was advertised for sale by the owner.

He had initially made enquiries about the vehicle two weeks earlier before turning up again at the owner’s home in Cranbrook, saying he wanted to take it on a test drive to show his mum.

Having been given permission, Jeffery drove away and, said Mr Evans, by the time the car was seen again it had been extensively damaged.

Jeffery, of Vale Road, later claimed he had dumped the Nissan in panic after being involved in a collision.

The owner, who was left with just £30 in his pocket, told police the incident had left him “a nervous wreck” and “on edge.”

He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. Picture: Stock image
He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. Picture: Stock image

Following his arrest, police seized a number of knives and catapults.

Samantha Wright, defending, said Jeffery was “very sorry” for his offending, which had been triggered by threats over a drug debt.

But she said having been diagnosed with ADHD and ASD at the age of 12, he ”didn’t know who he was or what was going on in his life.”

“He was brought up as a good kid but has hung with the wrong crowd and been sucked into something,” explained Ms Wright.

“His mum says he is wired differently and doesn’t think about things the way others do. He thinks people are his friends when they are not.”

She added Jeffery was now “starting to understand” how his neurodiversity affected his behaviour.

But on jailing him for a total of four years and eight months, Judge Julian Smith said he was a “willing participant” in a joint enterprise and got involved “with his eyes open.”

Judge Julian Smith
Judge Julian Smith

“The reality is you made a choice to drive around in a car with at least one other compatriot, armed with substantial knives and determined to rob those you came across,” he told Jeffery.

“You were effectively patrolling an area, scouting an area, identifying likely targets and then robbing them. That was a decision taken again and again.

“They (his accomplices) might have gotten away with it, being unidentified, but that doesn’t mean you are not jointly accountable.

“This was a joint enterprise and serious offending. It was organised and planned.”

Judge Smith said that the victim at the skatepark had been “profoundly” affected by what was a “deeply troubling” offence and that the three teens in the car park “must have believed” Jeffery was prepared to “back up the threat” made.

After the sentencing hearing, Detective Constable Andy Julier from Kent Police said: “Jeffrey preyed upon anyone he thought would be easy pickings, including the young and elderly. His many victims have been forced to endure some terrifying and appalling ordeals and were left in genuine fear for their lives.

“He is a prolific, opportunistic and violent offender who thinks nothing of brandishing weapons on our streets and cares even less about the long-lasting impact his cowardly actions will have had on those he targeted. I do hope the prison sentence Jeffrey is now serving will provide some reassurance to all those who have been affected by his crimes.”

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