After targeting a man in his Rochester home, a violent gang member has joined his accomplices in prison. David Akande, Mahei Ahmad, Mohammed Maow, and Thami Ngqobongwana travelled to an address near Shorts Way, Borstal with a number of other unidentified men on the evening of 4 February 2021. Once there, the group forced their way into a house, where one of them punched a man inside while demanding money. Before the gang left the scene, the victim’s mother was threatened after he surrendered his wallet. The police were called, and officers discovered that some of the offenders were driving a Smart Car. Just over an hour later, the vehicle was stopped by a patrol on the A2 near Bean. Ahmad, the driver, and Maow, his passenger, were both arrested. When the vehicle was searched, the victim’s bank cards and a quantity of cannabis were discovered under one of the seats. An investigation by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad revealed that Ngqobongwana and Akande were also involved. They were apprehended in Gillingham on the 8th and 12th of February, respectively. Akande of Arden Street in Gillingham, Ngqobongwana of Trafalgar Street in Gillingham, Ahmad of Herbert Road in Aldersbrook, Greater London, and Maow of Melford Road in East Ham have all been charged with robbery. Ahmad was also charged with possession of a class B drug, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance. After a trial at Maidstone Crown Court, all four pleaded not guilty and were found guilty. Ngqobongwana was sentenced to seven years in prison on April 29, 2022, in the same court, and Ahmad, 30, was sentenced to seven years and three months on May 5, 2022. In addition, his driver’s licence was revoked with eight points. Akande, 34, was sentenced to six years and ten months in prison on Monday, January 16, 2023, at Maidstone Crown Court. Mohammed Maow will be sentenced at a later date. ‘While investigators were never able to confirm their actual roles in the robbery, we were able to prove all four played a significant role in a crime that terrorised the occupants at the address,’ said investigating officer Detective Constable Dan Bister. ‘We were greatly aided by the early actions of attending officers, who ensured the arrest of two suspects as they attempted to flee the county, which led to the identification of the other two offenders. ‘I would like to thank the victims and witnesses who helped bring these men to justice and ensure they are no longer a threat to the public.’
