A robber and thief threatened to stab a man as part of a crime spree spanning the course of 18 months.

Grant Ray has been jailed after admitting to a total of 12 offences, all committed in the Ashford area.

The 28-year-old started his spree when he and another man attacked a man in Kimberley Way.

The victim had been walking through an underpass in the area in the early hours of Wednesday, May 15, 2019, when Ray and his accomplice approached him.

The pair held him up against a wall and threatened to stab him if he didn't hand over his belongings.

They then took his wallet and phone, punching him and repeating threats to stab him if he didn't unlock the phone.

A stolen bank card was later used in a supermarket and a service station, which later lead police officers to find CCTV images of Ray visiting the stores and eventually identify him as one of the robbers.

On Wednesday September 23, 2020, a car was taken from Athol Road, after its owner returned to his house and left the engine running.

The car later made off from a petrol station in Hythe Road without fuel being paid for, before later being found abandoned, having suffered substantial damage in Hever Gardens.

A lighter found on one of the seats had Ray's DNA on it.

The following month, a Volvo was taken from the forecourt of a petrol station in Brookfield Road while the owner was paying for petrol.

Officers attended the area and arrested Ray in Knoll Lane, discovering the vehicle was found in Bucksford Lane, on fire and having suffered damage in a collision.

Ray, who was disqualified from driving at the time, refused to take a breath or drug swipe test.

"He will be unable to trouble the people of Ashford for some time"

Ray, formerly of Barn Platt, pleaded guilty to offences including robbery, fraud and taking a vehicle without consent.

He was jailed for a total of three years at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday.

Investigating officer DC Natasha Russell said: "Ray is a repeat offender who continued to commit crime even while under investigation for other offences.

"The robbery he committed would have been terrifying for his victim and the state in which he left the cars he was involved in taking suggests he could easily have caused a serious accident.

"Our investigations into his offences have now seen him jailed and he will be unable to trouble the people of Ashford for some time."

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