Armed Rampage in Detling: Trio Jailed for Brutal Caravan Siege
A terrifying late-night raid in Detling ended with three men locked up after victims were threatened with deadly weapons including a machete and axe.
Armed Men Storm Caravans, Demand Cash
On 22 July 2020, Kent Police rushed to Scragged Oak Road after reports that armed thugs broke into three caravans, forcing occupants to hand over money. The criminals didn’t stop at intimidation—three victims suffered injuries, including a man stabbed in the arm.
A mum carrying a young child was forced outside by a machete-wielding attacker, while another woman had to hide in a bedroom with her kids to escape the terror. The gang fled in a white Transit van, which was later found ablaze in Rumstead Lane, Thurnham.
High-Tech Cops Pinpoint Crooks’ Moves
Investigators tracking ANPR and phone data linked Eli Smith, James Lee, and Prince Adeshokan to the crime. An Audi convoying the Transit was tied to Smith and Lee. A few days later, officers caught Smith and Lee in a black Mercedes connected to a similar Surrey burglary. Adeshokan was arrested weeks later at his Thornton Heath home, where police seized a machete and knife.
Harsh Sentences for Violent Conspiracy
- Eli Smith, 25, got eight years in jail.
- James Lee, 22, received seven-and-a-half years.
- Prince Adeshokan, 21, was sentenced to ten years, including extra time for breaching a suspended sentence.
Smith and Lee’s relative, Levy Deeprose, 31, was also sent down for 18 months after lying to shield the trio, falsely claiming involvement in a drug debt dispute to muddy the waters.
“The victims were woken in the night and subjected to a truly terrifying ordeal,” said Detective Constable Rachel Laidlaw. “These dangerous criminals showed no regard for the children caught up in their violent spree. Thanks to strong evidence, including phone and ANPR data, justice has been served with significant prison time.”
