Zouhair Etteay, 33, has been locked up after fleeing the country following a vicious 2023 burglary. The Chatham man was part of a gang who stormed a home near Luton Road, armed with knives and balaclavas. After forcing entry, they assaulted a resident and stole valuables before making a swift escape.
Violent Raid Followed by International Escape
On 8 September 2023, Etteay and five accomplices targeted the property in the early hours. The gang tore through the house demanding valuables, seizing two watches and two phones. Police chased suspects spotted running from the scene but Etteay slipped away to Morocco to dodge arrest.
Gang Members Jailed, Fugitive Finally Caught
- Ion Vasile, 23, Maidstone – 8 years 5 months
- Robert Maytum, 38, Chatham – 7 years 2 months
- Denis Calin, 22, Chatham – 7 years
- Rogel Dumitru, 21, Bexleyheath – 7 years 6 months
- Gheorghe-Hagi Constantin, 25, Chatham – 11 years
Etteay remained on the run until returning to the UK in September 2025. He was arrested in Gillingham, pleaded guilty at Maidstone crown-court/" title="Crown Court" rel="nofollow">Crown Court, and was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison on 5 January 2026, closing a two-year police probe into the brutal break-in.
