Dedawan Kakel drove from the West Midlands in a BMW with a group of criminal associates on March 8, 2021.

They planned to rob a community shop and, after driving to Kent, parked in Dart Close, close to the chosen location.

Around 7.30 p.m., Kakel and three others approached a shop on Darnley Road where a single employee was working.

When they got into the store, one of them struck the victim with a cricket bat.

He collapsed to the ground, and the others assaulted him. One of the assailants had a knife, and the victim cut his hand while defending himself.

The robbers then fled the scene with a large sum of money from the till, and the police were called.

The suspects’ car was identified from CCTV footage by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad.

Further investigation revealed that the car had stopped near Blue Bell Hill, and a CCTV image showed Kakel in the passenger seat.

Investigators recovered additional evidence proving he was near the crime scene at the time of the robbery, and he was arrested on July 21.

Kakel, of Princes Road, Middlesbrough, Teeside, was charged with robbery later that day.

He pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was convicted after a six-day trial. The 25-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday, July 4, 2022.

‘This group of violent criminals travelled a long distance to target a lone Kent shop worker, and their cowardly attack caused serious injuries to the victim,’ said investigating officer PC Emma Laimbeer.

The complex investigations in the West Midlands and Teeside identified Kakel, and his arrest should have sent a clear message to his accomplices that we are relentless in our efforts to bring violent criminals to justice in Kent,’ said the prosecutor.