Robbers who deceived a man into thinking he was in a relationship with a woman before he was threatened with a knife have been jailed for a combined total of 12 years

Robbers who deceived a man into thinking he was in a relationship with a woman before he was threatened with a knife have been jailed for a combined total of 12 years. Hollie Cheeseman led the victim to believe he had started a relationship with her before inviting him back to her home where her partner, Jeremy Long, was waiting with the weapon. They were both sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 7 December 2019. The court heard Cheeseman befriended the victim, a man in his 50s, over a six day period after they bumped into each other in Herne Bay in June 2019. On the day of the robbery Cheeseman attended the victim’s address where they watched television together. While they were together, she intimated she wanted to form a relationship with him and invited him back to her flat. The victim agreed and attended her home where he was threatened with a knife by Long, who demanded money. A bank card was handed over and Long unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw £100. After failing to obtain the money he returned to the address and walked the victim back to his home – continuing to threaten him with a knife at the same time. Once inside the victim’s address Cheeseman and Long stole various items, including a television, a laptop computer and a games console. When officers went to arrest the offenders they were found in their living room watching the television they had stolen from the victim. Cheeseman, 32 and of Collins Road, Herne Bay, denied robbery and false imprisonment and was found guilty following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court. She was sentenced to six years. Long, 41 and of Collins Road, Herne Bay, admitted two counts of robbery, false imprisonment and possessing an offensive weapon and was sentenced at the same court to six years. Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson, a senior investigating officer for the case, said: ‘Cheeseman’s extremely manipulative and deceitful offending, combined with Long’s willingness to use a weapon, resulted in the victim being subjected to a distressing and frightening ordeal. ‘I am pleased that we have secured justice for him and that these two dangerous offenders have received substantial custodial sentences which means they are no longer a threat to the public.’