A robber who targeted a driver in Margate to steal jewellery from their vehicle has been jailed. The robber Julian Martinez, who used the aliases Gerado Escobedo Neri and Jason Chezez, pleaded guilty to the offence at Canterbury Crown Court.
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Kent Police was called at 9.30pm on 25 July 2023 to an incident on Station Road. The victim was driving away from the area whilst transporting items related to a jewellery business. They were approached on foot by Martinez, who had been following them for some time in a Mercedes parked nearby. After trying and failing to get into the victim’s vehicle, the robber broke a window before snatching a bag from inside. The driver remained behind the wheel and made off after Martinez. A member of the public was alerted to the disturbance and wrestled with the offender, managing to retrieve the bag and return it to the victim. The robber then left quickly in the Mercedes.
Police arrived and carried out enquiries, which later led to the identification of Martinez. Following an investigation, he was arrested on 30 March 2025 and charged the next day. After admitting to the robbery, Martinez, 46, and of no fixed address, was sentenced on Thursday 2 October to three years’ imprisonment.
Detective Constable Aimee Gossett said:
‘Martinez was cold and calculating, following his victim before subjecting them to a frightening ordeal, and I’m pleased he has been given a custodial sentence. I hope it offers him the chance to change his ways, and reminds those who would come to Kent to commit crime that we will track them down and bring them before the courts to face justice.’