Cash Machine Thieves Slapped with £120,000 Payback Order
Two Kent cash machine raiders who left a trail of destruction have been ordered to cough up over £120,000. Anthony Pemberthy, 46, and Stephen Davenport, 63, were hit with hefty repayment demands after being caught in a major police crackdown.
Jail Birds Ordered to Hand Over Loot
The pair, who were jailed back in November 2022 for a series of brazen ATM heists, faced a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing on 31 October 2024. Pemberthy, formerly of Maidstone’s Calder Road, must repay a whopping £108,000. Davenport, ex of Ashford Road, Maidstone, owes £14,300. If they fail to pay within three months, extra prison time awaits.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Chris Greenstreet said, “These offences not only impacted the businesses financially but also affected the community, who were unable to access essential services. I am pleased that since these arrests, there have been no further successful incidents of this kind in Kent.”
Smash-and-Grab Spree Shocked Kent Businesses
This gang terrorised Kent between November 2019 and March 2021, using diggers and pickup trucks to rip cash machines from walls, causing huge structural damage:
- 14 Nov 2019: £30,000 stolen from Co-op on Cranbrook High Street. Loot found abandoned in Marden alongside vehicle.
- 25 Jan 2020: £20,000 swiped and £80,000 damage at an Esso petrol station in Staplehurst.
- 23 Mar 2020: Two ATMs ripped from Tesco Extra in Whitfield near Dover. Over £200,000 stolen and £40,000 damage. Police vehicles rammed in getaway.
- 31 Jan 2021: Attempted theft at Morrisons Northfleet left building battered but no cash taken.
- 28 Feb 2021: Failed attempt at Tesco Express in Dymchurch caused more damage without profits.
- 1 Mar 2021: Around £50,000 nicked from Shell petrol station on Thanet Way near Dargate.
DNA Evidence Nets the Crooks
Police linked Davenport to the pickup trucks in Cranbrook and Staplehurst. Pemberthy was fingered as the driver of diggers in Staplehurst, Whitfield, Northfleet, and Dymchurch crimes. The investigation used cutting-edge DNA tracing to crack the case.
Det. Supt. Greenstreet added, “We are determined to ensure criminals do not benefit from their illegal activities, and this case demonstrates our dedication to making offenders repay what they have stolen.”
This crackdown sends a clear message: Kent Police will not stand for organised crime ripping off local businesses or the community.
