Man involved in knifepoint robberies with machete near Cranbrook found hiding under bed by police

• Kent Police bodycam footage shows Jeffrey was found hiding under a bed

A man in connection with a machete that was used to terrorise victims including children in and around Cranbrook, has been jailed for over four years.

Cameron Jeffrey was involved in a series of offences during an evening of knifepoint robberies where members of the public were 'being warned they would be stabbed' and had 'weapons held near their faces.'

Kent Police say the 21-year-old sometimes wore a balaclava and travelled by car with another man, seeking out vulnerable and young victims.

Three teenage boys were targeted as they sat on a bench near Cranbrook High Street on Sunday 4 August 2024.

The authorities say Jeffrey’s vehicle pulled up next to the group, before he and the other male exited with their faces disguised.

They threatened to harm the victims and demanded they surrender all their possessions. A knife was held to one of their faces.

On the same night, an 18-year-old man and his girlfriend were approached as they were parked near Headcorn Road, Staplehurst.

The victim’s car door was opened, and a machete was pushed to his throat, while the pair demanded the teenager hand over his wallet.

Police say Jeffrey and his partner left with a bag stolen from the back seat and appeared to then drive away.

When the victim tried to leave the scene in his car he was confronted again by one of the males, who screamed that the wallet was not in the stolen bag.

He repeatedly struck the windscreen with the machete, causing the glass to break. The victim was only able to make his escape after driving away at speed.

Possessions stolen from the three teenage boys included a mobile phone, and tracking software on the device which led to Jeffrey's home near Cranbrook Road, Hawkhurst.

A search warrant was carried out and he was found hiding underneath a bed. Further searches led to the recovery of several of the stolen items.

Jeffrey was arrested on Tuesday 6 August. He was charged with multiple counts of robbery, possessing a knife in a public place and stealing a vehicle advertised for sale from an address in Cranbrook.

The theft happened on Tuesday 9 July, after he met with an elderly victim and persuaded him to let him take it for a test drive. The vehicle was later found abandoned after a collision.

Jeffrey pleaded guilty to all the charges at Maidstone Crown Court and on Thursday 12 December was jailed for four years and eight months.

Detective Constable Andy Julier, 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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