A prolific offender who attempted to evade capture by leaping from a first-floor window and scrambling over garden fences has been sentenced to prison following a rapid police pursuit in Maidstone.
The incident began early on Friday 17 April 2026, when officers from the Community Safety Unit arrived at a property on Hope Street to arrest 43-year-old Sean McFetridge. He had been identified via CCTV as a suspect in the recent theft of a child’s mobile phone, an item which has since been recovered.
The situation escalated immediately as patrols entered the building and McFetridge jumped from a window to escape. He led officers on a high-speed chase through residential back gardens, vaulting fences while police units coordinated on the ground. As officers tracked him from the street, McFetridge forced his way through a small window into a random home, shattering a plant pot in the process. His attempt to hide was short-lived, however, as the shouting from the residence alerted police to his location.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered a member of the public successfully restraining the suspect. The entire pursuit lasted less than two minutes before McFetridge was taken into custody. During his subsequent interview, investigators further linked him to a meat theft that had occurred at a shop on Loose Road just one day prior.
Acting Chief Inspector Zara McAinley for Maidstone said:
‘Our officers are dedicated to catching criminals and keeping members of the public safe, and this arrest shows just how committed they are.
‘Sean McFetridge is a prolific offender who became brazen with his crimes. Instead of co-operating with officers, he decided to jump out of a window and over fences to try and evade arrest, while also causing distress to the occupants of the home he entered.
‘Yet officers didn’t hesitate to pursue him and he was caught in less than two minutes, following their quick-thinking and solid teamwork.
‘Everyday officers go above and beyond in the line of duty and I am very proud of them all.’
McFetridge, of Yalding Hill in Yalding, was charged with two counts of theft and criminal damage. He appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 18 April where he pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment.