Crispin Kent, 46, of Alnwick Road, E16, has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a series of armed robberies and a vehicle robbery where he posed as a police officer. The sentencing, which took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 28 September, followed Kent’s earlier conviction on three counts of armed robbery and one count of robbing a vehicle.
Detective Constable Craig Prout of the Flying Squad stated, “Kent is clearly a violent individual who thinks nothing of getting what he wants, or of the long-lasting impact his offences have had on these innocent victims. They are people who were going about their day as normal, and Kent made them fear for their lives.”
The court heard that the three armed robberies occurred in December 2019 in the Newham area. Kent, with his face concealed, entered stores on each occasion, firing a gun at the floor before demanding money from the till. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and in the last incident, shop staff bravely chased the armed suspect from the premises. However, an hour later, police received a call about a woman being pulled over by two males posing as police officers in Wick Lane E3. The perpetrators stole her vehicle and fled the scene.
The Flying Squad and detectives from Central East Command Unit launched an investigation, linking the incidents together. Surveillance footage showed a dark-coloured vehicle traveling to and from the robbery scenes, leading to the identification of Kent as a suspect. Further footage captured a matching vehicle on Kent’s driveway. He was arrested at his home in February 2020, where officers found clothing worn during the offences.
CCTV footage revealed Kent seemingly replacing the number plates of the vehicle outside his home. DNA and ballistic evidence tied Kent to the crimes after the recovery of a blank firearm, disguised to resemble a real Beretta self-loading pistol. The firearm underwent specialist examination, confirming its nature.
The sentencing reflects the gravity of Kent’s offences, with Detective Constable Prout stating, “It is entirely correct that he spends a significant amount of time behind bars.”
