Knife-Wielding Robber Jailed for Targeting Teenage Boys in Gillingham

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Kent Police has reported a robber, armed with a knife, who targeted two teenage boys in Gillingham has been jailed at a court in Maidstone.

On 10 February 2025, Cameron Joseph was a passenger on a bus travelling through the town centre when he saw two boys walking towards Brompton Road. He got off, approached the teenagers, and started asking them personal questions. Joseph offered to buy a Canada Goose jacket one of them was wearing and, as the boys tried to walk away, they noticed he had a knife in his waistband.

Joseph then ushered one of them into an alleyway where he became aggressive and stole the victim’s jacket and other items including some AirPods.

The incident was not reported until almost a week later when on 16 February, Joseph followed another teenage boy in the Brompton area and asked for his bag. When the victim refused, he threatened to stab him and showed a knife in his jacket pocket. Joseph became more aggressive and the victim, fearing for his safety, handed over his bag before leaving the scene.

One of the victims described a distinctive rose tattoo on Joseph’s hand and this enabled detectives to identify him as the offender. He was tracked down in Gravesend on 20 February and arrested following a foot chase. Joseph was wearing the stolen jacket and bag at the time he was detained.

Joseph, from Gillingham, was later charged with two robberies and two counts of possessing a bladed weapon in a public place. He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

On Friday 23 May, the 18-year-old was given an extended sentence of seven years and three months, of which four years and three months will be in prison. When he becomes eligible for parole, Joseph will have to serve a further three years on licence.

Detective Sergeant Richard Taylor said:

‘This criminal chose to rob teenagers travelling from school and stole expensive clothing which he continued to wear afterwards.

‘Threatening young victims with a knife is despicable but the descriptions provided by his victims allowed officers to track him down. He is now quite rightly starting a prison sentence and Medway is certainly a safer place in his absence.’