Man Terrorises City Centre with Fake Gun
On Tuesday 31 October 2023, two women fled to a city centre hotel after a man carrying what looked like a small gun tailed them down the High Street.
Intimidation in Café Ends in Robbery
The suspect then stormed into a nearby café, waving the weapon and threatening staff. A brave customer who followed him outside was forced to hand over cash at gunpoint.
Luckily, the weapon turned out to be an imitation—a cleverly disguised cigarette lighter.
Armed Police Arrest Suspect
kent-police/" title="Kent Police">Kent Police quickly arrived on the scene and arrested 31-year-old Esmatullah Sharfi, of no fixed address. He was charged with robbery and three counts of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.
Sharfi pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court and was sentenced on Wednesday 6 December 2023 to four years behind bars.
Police Warn Against Imitation Weapons
“Sharfi traumatised his victims by making them think their lives were in danger with what looked like a real gun,” said Detective Constable Matthew Burridge of East Kent CID.
“Imitation firearms are terrifying and can be used to manipulate people’s fear. This sentence should serve as a clear warning: Kent will not tolerate anyone carrying weapons or threatening others, real or fake.”
For support on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), visit Kent Police’s advice pages. If you’re a victim of violence, report it online or call 999 in an emergency.
