A man has been sentenced to over six years in prison following a series of violent, unprovoked attacks in Maidstone in which he assaulted two strangers with a metal gas cannister and later carjacked a delivery driver. Lauchlan Pritchard, 25, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on November 6, 2024, after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

The attacks occurred in the early hours of May 19, 2024, when Pritchard approached two men on Lower Stone Street and, without warning, began striking them with a large cylinder used to consume nitrous oxide. The victims, who were strangers to Pritchard, tried to escape but were pursued. One man fell, hit his head on the pavement, and was knocked unconscious after being struck again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFT85diSwM

Following the assaults, Pritchard targeted a nearby pizza delivery driver, blocking the vehicle’s path and forcing his way into the car. He demanded the driver head toward Courtenay Road, where he then assaulted the driver and demanded money. Although the driver attempted to retrieve his keys and escape, Pritchard threatened him with the cannister and made off with the vehicle, which was later found abandoned in a ditch on the A229, Linton Hill. Police located the cannister used in the assaults nearby.

Pritchard was apprehended on June 6 after giving a false name to officers who stopped a van on the M20. At Maidstone Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating, aggravated vehicle taking, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Judge’s sentencing reflected the severity of the crime, with Pritchard receiving a sentence of six years and four months in prison. Deemed dangerous, he will be required to serve two-thirds of his sentence before parole eligibility and will face an additional two-year extended licence period upon release. He was also banned from driving for five years.

Detective Constable Alice Henham condemned Pritchard’s actions, calling them “senseless and barbaric,” and noted that one victim continues to suffer serious health consequences, including brain bleeds. Our investigation provided irrefutable evidence,” DC Henham added, citing DNA from the crime scenes, CCTV footage, and social media images linking Pritchard to the crime.

This conviction underscores the commitment of law enforcement in securing justice for victims of violent crime and preventing further danger to the community.