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A machete wielding robber terrorised victims including children during an evening of knife point robberies in and around Cranbrook. Cameron Jeffrey has now been jailed for his role in a series of offences, which included victims being warned they would be stabbed and weapons held near their faces.
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Cameron Jeffrey
Jeffrey – sometimes wearing a balaclava – travelled by car with an associate, seeking out vulnerable and young victims on 4 August 2024. Three teenage boys were targeted as they sat on a bench near Cranbrook High Street. Jeffrey’s vehicle suddenly pulled up next to them, before he and the other male got out with their faces disguised. They threatened to harm the victims, amid demands they surrender all their possessions. A knife was held to one of their faces.
On the same night, an 18-year-old and his girlfriend were approached when they were parked near Headcorn Road, Staplehurst. The victim’s car door was suddenly opened, and a machete was pushed to his throat, amid demands he hand over his wallet. Jeffrey and his associate left with a bag stolen from the back seat, and they appeared to then drive away.
When the victim tried to leave the scene in his car he was confronted again by one of the males, who screamed that the wallet was not in the stolen bag and repeatedly struck the windscreen with the machete, breaking the glass. The victim was only able to escape after driving away at speed.
Jeffrey was arrested on 6 August. Possessions stolen from the three teenage boys included a mobile phone, and tracking software on the device led to his home in Hawkhurst. A search warrant was executed and he was found hiding underneath a bed. Further searches led to the recovery of several of the stolen items.
Jeffrey, 21, was charged with multiple counts of robbery and possessing a knife in a public place. He was further charged with stealing a vehicle advertised for sale from an address in Cranbrook which occured on 9 July, after he met with an elderly victim and persuaded him to let him take it for a test drive. The vehicle was later found abandoned after a collision.
Jeffrey pleaded guilty to all the charges at Maidstone Crown Court and on 12 December was sentenced to four years and eight months’ imprisonment.
Detective Constable Andy Julier said:
‘Jeffrey preyed upon anyone he thought would be easy pickings, including the young and elderly. His many victims have been forced to endure some terrifying and appalling ordeals and were left in genuine fear for their lives.
‘He is a prolific, opportunistic and violent offender who thinks nothing of brandishing weapons on our streets and cares even less about the long-lasting impact his cowardly actions will have had on those he targeted.
‘I do hope the prison sentence Jeffrey is now serving will provide some reassurance to all those who have been affected by his crimes.’