A thief was arrested, charged, and sentenced to prison in a remarkable turnaround of less than 48 hours following a break-in at a Folkestone pub.
Kent Police were called at 2:50 am on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, with reports of a burglary in progress on Rendezvous Street. Officers scrambled to the scene and, just eight minutes later, located and arrested a man nearby. The suspect was found in possession of a large bag of stolen alcohol which including wine, beer, and cider—with an estimated value of around £350. Investigators also found an open bottle of beer near the point of forced entry.
Barry Martin, 41, from Folkestone, was quickly charged with burglary. He was held in custody and appeared before Folkestone Magistrates’ Court the very next day and on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Martin was sentenced to six months in prison. As a result of the conviction, he has also been recalled to serve the remainder of a previous sentence.
Inspector Pete Woodridge praised the rapid response saying:
“Thanks to the quick and decisive actions of our attending officers and investigation team, we have been able to secure a jail sentence for this opportunistic criminal. I’m pleased that a repeat offender has been removed from the Folkestone community.”
He added that theft impacts both businesses and the wider public, urging owners to continue reporting incidents.