A robbery victim was violently assaulted in Maidstone after being lured into a trap by a woman pretending to be in distress. Three people have now been jailed following the incident, during which the victim was chased, beaten, and warned that he could be killed if he resisted.
The attack took place in the early hours of January 2, 2024, on Old Tovil Road. The victim encountered a woman at the corner of Hayle Road pleading for help. When he tried to assist her, she suddenly grabbed his hand, and two men quickly approached.
The victim attempted to flee but was chased down and thrown to the ground, where he was beaten, kicked, and threatened with a weapon, believed to be a knife. The attackers stole his phone and wallet, leaving him with multiple injuries, including bruising and a broken nose.
A swift police investigation identified the suspects, and in the following weeks, Danas Ambrazevicius, Abigail Dearlove, and Charlie Rider were arrested.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Danas Ambrazevicius, 41, and Abigail Dearlove, 35, both of no fixed address, denied the robbery charge but were found guilty after a trial. Ambrazevicius was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment on September 27. Dearlove received a total sentence of five years and four months, which also included guilty pleas in a separate case involving the supply of class A drugs.
Charlie Rider, 26, pleaded guilty to the robbery. He also admitted to several counts of making threats with a corrosive substance and assaulting emergency workers in relation to a separate incident. These charges were linked to an altercation on March 17, during which Rider threw a corrosive substance at four officers who had been called to a disturbance at his home on Knightrider Street, Maidstone. Rider was sentenced at the same court on Thursday, October 3, to three years and three months.
Detective Constable Rosie Acton said: “This was a robbery that was clearly planned, with Dearlove playing the role of a vulnerable and isolated woman seeking urgent help. The victim’s natural concern and goodwill towards her were callously exploited, resulting in a cowardly attack where he was heavily outnumbered. During the assault, Dearlove continued to shout demands for his possessions while he was being held down.
“Robbery offences remain very rare in Maidstone, but when they do happen, the effect on those targeted can be profound and long-lasting. I do hope the victim in this case feels reassured now that justice has been served.”
