Knife-Wielding Thief Busted After Cycling Rampage Across Folkestone
A vicious thief who cycled from shop to shop in Folkestone, brandishing a knife and stealing goods, has been locked up for more than seven years.
Violent Meat Heist and Chocolate Snatch
On Saturday 26 January 2019, Wayne Williams tried to nick meat from the Co-op on Cheriton High Street. When caught by staff, he threw the goods on the floor and punched the worker in the face before making a run for it.
Just two days later, Williams, 48, struck again at Tesco on Foord Road. A member of staff spotted him with a bag of chocolates worth over £100. Williams dropped the loot and fled, but then shocked his pursuer by lunging at him with a lock knife before hopping on his bike and cycling off with the stolen goods.
Repeated Attacks and Shoplift Spree
- Afternoon of the same day, he stole candles from Clinton Cards on High Street, punching a staff member who tried to stop him.
- On Friday 1 March 2019, Williams targeted Boots on Sandgate Road. When a security guard confronted him, Williams shoved him and threatened to use his knife. The guard recovered some deodorants, but Williams escaped on his bike.
- Just an hour later, he swiped chocolates from Tesco Express on Bouverie Road West.
Arrest and Heavy Sentence
Police caught up with Williams on Bellevue Street that afternoon, seizing the knife from his pocket. He was charged with two counts of robbery, attempted robbery, two counts of theft, and two counts of carrying a knife in public.
Williams pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a hefty seven-and-a-half years at Canterbury Crown Court on 16 May 2019.
“Kent Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime and will continue to remove these items from the street,” said Detective Constable Graham Wilkinson. “Williams showed blatant disregard for the law, putting the public and shop staff at risk. He’ll now serve time in prison for his actions.”
