A violent robber from Middlesborough who targeted a Strood shopkeeper is starting a prison sentence.
On 8 March 2021, Dedawan Kakel travelled from the West Midlands in a BMW with a group of criminal associates. They intended to rob a community shop and, having driven to Kent, they parked in Dart Close, near the chosen premises.
At around 7.30pm, Kakel and three others approached a shop in Darnley Road where a staff member was working alone.
Cricket bat
They entered the store and one of the group struck the victim with a cricket bat. He fell to the floor and the others assaulted him. One of the assailants had a knife and, as the victim protected himself, he suffered a cut to his hand. The robbers then left the scene with a quantity of cash from the till and the police were alerted.
Chief Constable’s Crime Squad
An investigation by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad identified the suspects’ car from CCTV footage. Further enquiries established the car had stopped at a petrol station near Blue Bell Hill and a CCTV image showed Kakel in the passenger seat. Investigators retrieved further evidence that proved he was near the crime scene at the time of the robbery and he was arrested on 21 July.
Charged
Kakel, of Princes Road, Middlesbrough, Teeside was later charged with robbery. He pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and, after a six-day trial, was convicted. On Monday 4 July 2022, the 25-year old was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Investigating officer, PC Emma Laimbeer, said: ‘This group of violent criminals travelled a long way to target a lone Kent shop worker and their cowardly attack caused serious injuries to the victim.
‘The complex enquiries in the West Midlands and Teeside identified Kakel and his arrest should have sent a clear message to his accomplices that, in Kent, we are relentless in our efforts to bring violent criminals to justice.’