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Herne Bay sex sting couple pictured after judge jails them for six years

Police have released images of a couple who robbed a vulnerable man at knifepoint after he was tricked into thinking he was going to have sex with one of them.

Hollie Cheeseman and Jeremy Long hatched a plan to entice the victim back to their flat in Greenhill, near Herne Bay, with the promise of an intimate encounter.

Jeremy Long
Jeremy Long

But as Cheeseman and the unsuspecting man undressed in a bedroom, Long burst in with a knife and threatened to cut off the victim's private parts.

He was then held at the flat while Long went to a cashpoint in an attempt to withdraw money from his account with a stolen card, but it was empty.

So Long and Cheeseman instead stole a TV, phone, and PS4 games console from the man's flat.

Each was jailed for six years on Friday for their part in the honeytrap robbery.

Canterbury Crown Court was told heavily pregnant Cheeseman, 32, faces losing her baby when it's born in prison.

Hollie Cheeseman
Hollie Cheeseman

The jail she is detained in has a mother and baby unit, but children are only permitted to stay there for a maximum of 18 months.

As she was led to the cells, Cheeseman told a family member in the public gallery “I’ve lost it (the baby), I’ve lost it”.

Cheeseman’s barrister James Cartwright pleaded with a judge to give Cheeseman a lesser sentence so she could keep her baby.

“If she were given a four-year sentence she will lose custody of her child, which is going to be born soon," he said.

“She is a warm-hearted person if she wants to be, and to deprive her of her child is not a punishment at all, it’s just cruelty.

Hollie Cheeseman denied robbery and false imprisonment
Hollie Cheeseman denied robbery and false imprisonment

“I’m going to ask you as a matter of mercy to give her a sentence of less than four years.”

But Judge Catherine Brown said Cheeseman had shown “a lack of remorse and empathy”.

She told her: “Not surprisingly given your history, whether you will be permitted to see your child once he or she is born is far from certain, although there is a mother and baby unit in the prison at which you are detained.

“In any event, a child can only remain for a maximum of 18 months.

“Because of your pregnancy I have no doubt being on remand and serving a custodial sentence is more onerous than it would be for someone not in your position.

Hollie Cheeseman is set a 'honeytrap' for her victim
Hollie Cheeseman is set a 'honeytrap' for her victim

“Whether or not you keep your baby, the fact that you will give birth as a serving prisoner is a factor I take into account.”

Long was also sentenced, asking Judge Brown to take into account three outstanding offences - two for shoplifting and one for carrying a knife.

His barrister, Phil Rowley, highlighted his client’s remorse for his part in the honeytrap robbery.

He continued: “Unfortunately there was a traumatic event in his youth. He began a relationship with illicit drugs which has remained a problem in his life.

“Since being in custody he’s addressed his use of drugs.”

Mr Rowley added Long has also reflected on his mental health problems since being in custody.

Long admitted two counts of robbery, false imprisonment, and having a bladed article at a previous hearing.

Cheeseman denied the charges, claiming she was leading a double life as a prostitute and had intended to have sex with the victim for money.

But a jury convicted Cheeseman unanimously of two counts of robbery and false imprisonment in October.

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Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay

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