A victim who was threatened by intruders in his Dartford home has seen one of the violent offenders jailed.
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On 2 May 2024, Carlton Gregoire and two criminal associates travelled to Kent in a Hyundai and parked near to The Brent in Dartford. They then covered their faces and two of them climbed a lamp post to enter into the building by forcing open a window.
The occupant of the premises was threatened by the two men who were holding a knife and a bottle. The terrified victim fled and hid behind some cars until he saw the men leave.
Police were alerted and investigators recovered CCTV that showed the offenders arriving in the Hyundai. Further enquiries identified the car had travelled from the Romford area prior to the incident, before returning. Detectives went on to prove that Gregoire had access to the vehicle and had travelled to the scene when the offence was committed.
Gregoire, of Newham, London, was arrested at an address in Romford on 4 June and later charged with aggravated burglary. He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Friday 30 August 2024, the 29-year-old was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Richard Taylor, of the Kent Crime Squad, said:
‘This was a terrifying incident for the victim who had no idea why his home had been targeted. It is fortunate he was able to flee and avoid suffering any injury but he will continue to be affected by his ordeal.
‘This type of crime is always a priority for us and a prompt investigation ensured we were able to identify one of the perpetrators and then recover sufficient evidence to place him safely behind bars.’