Six prolific burglars who hit more than ten homes across Kent were jailed to a combined total of 36 years and seven months.
Paul Bristow, William Adams, Rhys Smith, Jamie Knight, John Adams, and Paul Cash were sentenced last week at Southwark Crown Court for a total of 33 offences, including multiple counts of burglary, theft, robbery, and criminal damage.
More than £300,000 worth of property, including nine luxury cars, two quad bikes, a tipper truck, as well as golf equipment, jewellery, and cash, was stolen from ten homes during the month-long crime spree between 20 March and 15 April last year.
Passing sentence, Recorder Margia Mostafa said the men formed a “highly organised, highly sophisticated” group that targeted homes with expensive cars, stealing the keys and other valuables before driving away with the parked vehicles. They also fitted false number plates to disguise the stolen cars and used a support vehicle to scout targets.
Over the course of the conspiracy, the men carried out 10 burglaries in towns including Ashford, Ramsgate, Hawkhurst, Rainham, and Staplehurst. They attempted to burgle several other homes in Whitstable, Herne Bay, Brenchley, and Borden, but were disrupted by the owners, causing them to flee.
During one attempted carjacking in Goudhurst, the men forcibly stopped an off-duty police officer and approached him with what appeared to be a baton. The court was told the officer “genuinely feared for his life”, and said the incident would “stay with me for the rest of my life.”
At another burglary in New Romney, the men attacked the homeowner with a pool cue following a confrontation that left him with a broken shoulder, before making off with his Mercedes C43. The recorder commended the homeowner, saying he showed “great courage and resilience standing up to [the burglars].”
At a failed break-in near Lamberhurst, the homeowner attempted to stop the burglars from leaving by blocking their exit with a car. They resorted to smashing the victim’s windscreen and driver’s side window, injuring him in the process.
Southwark Crown Court heard how victims were left “traumatised”, “violated”, and “scarred” by the burglaries, fearful in their own homes. One homeowner said he and his family now sleep “with anxiety”, while another told the court she had to sell her “dream car” because she no longer felt safe keeping it.
Kent Police investigating officer DC Lottie Bishop said: “These prolific burglars carried out a spate of thefts and violent offences without care for anything other than selfishly lining their own pockets.
“They paid no mind to the lasting impact on their victims, many of whom were left feeling vulnerable after their homes and safe spaces were violated by the intruders.”
All six burglars were arrested in April and May 2024, after police patrols in Walderslade stopped two vehicles, one of which was travelling on a false number plate. They were found with burglary tools, including a drill, a screwdriver, crowbars, and balaclavas.
They were all convicted of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to burgle, with Paul Bristow also guilty of robbery and criminal damage, and William Adams and Rhys Smith further convicted of robbery and attempted robbery.
The burglars were handed jail terms ranging from three years to nine years and two months at Southwark Crown Court last Friday (24 October).
Paul Bristow, 34, of Chilmington Green in Ashford, was sentenced to nine years and two months’ imprisonment.
William Adams, 26, of Elm Grove in Sittingbourne, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
Rhys Smith, 31, of Meehan Road in Greatstone, was sentenced to seven years and five months’ imprisonment.
Jamie Knight, 24, of South Park Road in Maidstone, and John Adams, 32, of Common Road in Sissinghurst, were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Paul Cash, 21, of Pye Corner in Ulcombe, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
DC Bishop said: “I am pleased with the hefty custodial sentences handed to the primary offenders and hope that it serves as reassurance to the public that they will be unable to cause harm.”