Four masked men who broke into a Strood home to steal a cannabis crop and attacked the man sleeping there were jailed for a combined 50 years at Maidstone Crown Court.[1][2] The man was asleep in his home in Weston Road, Strood, when the gang broke in, threatened him with a knife and attacked him, leaving him with facial injuries and a fractured wrist.[1] Clothing seized from the suspects was later found to have the victim’s blood on it.[2]
Kent Police were called shortly after 2.30am on 25 November 2025 after the four were seen loading cannabis plants into a BMW and a van.[3] The vehicles split up after 12 miles, with officers pursuing the BMW towards Bexley via the A2.[2][4] Police first spotted the grey BMW and van travelling in convoy along Watling Street in Rochester.[2] Other officers stopped the van, which had also gone through the tunnel, at a red light, and Hylton tried to flee on foot before being caught.[3] The car was stopped shortly after passing through the Blackwall Tunnel, and Harris, Bonney, and Williams were arrested at the scene.[2][4] All four men were in custody by 3.24am.[5][2][4] A search of both vehicles found several cannabis plants, and officers also found a trail of plants and soil along Weston Road.[3][5] CCTV showed both vehicles arriving at the property and transporting bags and large plants.[2][4]
All four were charged with robbery and found guilty at Maidstone Crown Court after a trial on 30 October.[3] Mobile phone evidence revealed messages planning the robbery, with Harris saying he needed “as many soldiers as possible.”[5][2] Hylton, 35, of no fixed address, was jailed for 12 years.[1] Bonney, 35, of Albion Drive in Hackney, was locked up for 11 years.[1] Harris, 36, of Lansdowne Drive in Hackney, was jailed for 14 years, and Williams, 38, of no fixed address, for 13 years.[1]
