Final members of criminal gang sentenced in connection with Tunbridge Wells murder

The last six members of a criminal gang have been sentenced for their roles in a Tunbridge Wells robbery which led to a man being brutally murdered.

A total of 13 men have now been jailed following a plot to steal cannabis plants from a house in Caley Road, where Xhovan Pepaj was fatally stabbed.

Kent Police was called to a disturbance at the address during the early hours of 4 December 2021. Attending patrols found cannabis plants discarded along the road and leading up to the house.

A locked metal gate, from floor to ceiling, initially prevented officers from accessing the upstairs of the building where Mr Pepaj had been left suffering multiple stab wounds.

Access was secured by fire crews and the 25-year-old victim was declared deceased at the scene. A bloodstained knife was found nearby but any suspects had fled.

An investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate led to arrests of all 13 suspects and charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service. 

First sentencings in May

On 18 May 2023, seven of the defendants were sentenced at the Old Bailey, following a trial in Loughborough.

Ciaran Stewart, 20, from Hornchurch, Essex was found guilty of murder. He had admitted conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 26 years before he can be considered for parole.

Kelvin Amoako, 18, from Ilford, Greater London was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 22 years.

Bartosz Malawski, 28, from Croydon was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 22 years.

Nathan Rainforth, 22, from Pilgrims Hatch, Essex was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years.

Donte Simpson-Palmer, 19, from, South London was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to six years.

Charles Reilly, 28, from Mount Nessing, Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was jailed for ten years.

Mohammed Miah, 26, from Romford, Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years.

Justice now served on final six offenders

Proceedings concerning the other six defendants continued in the months that followed and they were all sentenced on Monday 30 October at Hove Crown Court.  

Ray Renda, 23, from Brentwood, Essex had previously pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was jailed for six years.  

The remaining five were all found guilty of conspiracy to rob (Their trial had been in July at the Law Courts in Brighton).

Jonathan Hedges, 26, from Romford, Greater London was sentenced to two years and six months.

Nathan Turner, 30, from Brentwood, Essex was sentenced to six years. (He was also convicted of possessing cannabis with intent to supply).

Zach Cutting, 25, from Waltham Abbey, Essex received three years.

Glen Hough, 52, from Pilgrims Hatch, Essex was jailed for four years and six months.

Fabian Szymula, 21, from South Ockendon, Essex. Szymula was sentenced to two years and six months. He has also been found guilty of perverting the course of justice, in relation to a note passed to a defendant in the first trial.