A 20-year-old man from Gravesend who admitted handling a stolen Range Rover along with a shoplifting offence has resulted in an offender being jailed.
Kent Police was made aware of suspicious activity in Dartford on Monday 8 July 2024 when the driver of a white Range Rover was seen to abandon the car in the Hawley area shortly after 12pm that afternoon, before getting out of the vehicle and leaving the scene on a moped.
Enquiries were carried out and the car was found to have been stolen from Higham earlier in the day. The vehicle was recovered and returned to the owner.
An investigation led to Ben Gardiner, from Northfleet, being arrested in connection with the incident on 9 February 2025. He was charged later the same day.
Gardiner appeared before crown court on Wednesday 12 March 2025 and pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. He also admitted stealing items worth more than £100 from the Co-op in Longfield in September 2024.
He was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay £187 surcharge.
PC Dave Gillham said:
‘We take all reports of vehicle crime very seriously and will always strive to bring perpetrators before the courts. Brazen offenders such as Gardiner need to understand this, and know of the consequences they will face when they are convicted.’