Three men who ram-raided a Co-op and made off with booze and cigarettes before being chased down by police have been jailed.

Getaway driver Clint Londors ploughed his silver BMW X5 into the front of the convenience store on the Isle of Grain.

Thieves who ram-raided the Co-op on the Isle of Grain have been jailed

The incident happened at around 3am on June 21 and saw the Rochester resident reverse into the village shop on two occasions, causing significant damage to the entrance.

His two accomplices, Bradley Pearce and Jamie Turner, both 39, then got out the vehicle carrying bags and entered the store where they stole large amounts of cigarettes, alcohol, razor blades and football cards.

Londors joined them to take crates of lager and over four minutes the trio stole more than £1,500 worth of goods.

The 48-year-old then drove his accomplices from the scene on the Hoo Peninsula and headed towards Rochester.

Officers on patrol in Grain Road, who had been alerted to an alarm sounding at the Co-op, spotted the BMW speed past them and gave chase.

The pursuit continued across the Isle of Grain with Londors attempting to reverse into the police vehicle several times, making contact on one occasion.

At one point, Londers drove the wrong way along a dual carriageway causing approaching vehicles to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision.

The officers then lost sight of the BMW near Frindsbury and patrols continued to search the area with the assistance of the police helicopter.

After around half an hour, one of the accomplices, Turner was located hiding in some woodland.

Officers had found a number of the stolen items as they made their way towards him and, when he was searched, cigarettes and razor blades were discovered hidden in his clothing.

A short while later the BMW was located unattended on a footpath near Four Elms Hill. It had suffered damage from driving through a hedgerow and contained much of the stolen property.

Police pursue the offenders through the streets of Grain

The police helicopter then detected movement next to a nearby treeline and patrols attended the location and arrested Pearce.

Inquiries were made into the ownership of the BMW and Londors was detained a week later on June 29.

CCTV from the Co-op along with other evidence linked the offenders to the crime and all were charged with burglary. Londors was also charged with dangerous driving.

Subsequently, Pearce was further charged with a second count of burglary at a shop in Rochester High Street.

The break-in had happened just days earlier on Thursday 17 June, when bridal accessories had been stolen.

Pearce and Turner, both of no fixed address, and Londors, of High Street, Rochester, pleaded guilty to the charges at Maidstone Crown Court.

Londors was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison on Friday October 15.

He was also disqualified for three years and six months and will be required to take an extended test.

On the same date, Turner, who was also on probation at the time of the incident, was jailed for a total of three years and four months.

On Monday at the same court, his fellow accomplice Pearce was sentenced to two years and eight months' imprisonment.

This included a concurrent sentence of three months in relation to the burglary in Rochester High Street.

Villagers were left in shock following the ram-raid which saw the shop closed for three days while repairs costing £35,000 were completed.

The only post office in the area was also located inside.

Its closure caused considerable inconvenience to local residents, particularly the elderly and those unable to travel.

Investigating officer, PC Rebecca Howlett of the chief constable’s crime squad, said: "These small local shops are vital to communities and this type of crime can affect the financial viability of the business and its ability to continue.

"These offenders showed no consideration for the impact of their crime thinking only of making a quick profit from selling the stolen property.

"The manner of the driving as they sought to avoid arrest was reckless in the extreme and these men thoroughly deserve some time in prison."

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