Teenager's Deceptive Crime Spree Ends in Prison Sentence
A 19-year-old man who pretended to be a wheelchair user to steal from a supermarket before violently assaulting a security guard has been jailed. Davey Brown of Winch's Garth in Staplehurst was sentenced to three years and one month's imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, 6 November.
The Chain of Events: From Hit and Run to Supermarket Assault
Brown's crime spree began on the evening of 3 June 2025 in Four Elms Road, Edenbridge. The car he was driving struck a stationary vehicle, and when the victim got out, Brown drove directly at her before fleeing the scene through a red light.
He arrived shortly afterwards at the Sainsbury's store in Station Road, Staplehurst, where he enacted an elaborate deception. Assisted by an accomplice, Brown pretended to be a wheelchair user. He concealed two crates of beer beneath a jacket on his lap and attempted to leave without paying.
Violent Confrontation and Arrest
When a security guard challenged Brown as an unidentified man tried to wheel him out of the supermarket, the situation turned violent. Astonishing footage shows the teenager responding by punching the security guard and hurling stolen beer bottles, cans, and other items at him.
During the chaotic incident, a second shop employee was injured by one of the thrown objects. Brown fled the scene but was stopped and arrested by police patrols within 30 minutes. Whilst being arrested, he bombarded officers with threats and abusive comments.
Legal Consequences and Police Statement
Brown pleaded guilty to multiple charges including robbery, affray, two counts of damaging property, common assault, using threatening words and behaviour, and using a motor vehicle on a road without insurance.
A 17-year-old boy was also arrested and charged in connection with the incident. He was sentenced on 12 July to serve six months' imprisonment in a young offenders' institute.
Investigating officer, PC Ricky Strong, stated: "Brown is a violent man who endangered another motorist, attacked a security guard and their colleague, and made threats to attending police officers. He left a man with injuries requiring hospital treatment for simply carrying out his job. A custodial sentence means Brown will be unable to put any other members of the public at risk for some time."
In addition to his prison sentence, Brown was disqualified from driving.
