A thug who threatened to set a car alight after dousing it in petrol with four people inside has been jailed.

Kingsley Edmed, from Lakemead in Ashford, pulled up at a petrol station in Brookfield Road on August 24, last year and demanded money from a man he recognised in a shop.

Edmed then stalked the man back to his car at 3.20am and got into the back with four other people still inside the vehicle. He told them no one could leave until he got his money and if he did not he would set the vehicle alight.

The 22-year-old then got out of the car and started pumping petrol onto the back seats, drenching the people inside.

The people in the back seats fled the vehicle as Edmed continued to threaten the man and demand money from him.

After using a ball and chain to smash the rear window, the other two people in the car rushed out, but Edmed then got into the car and sped away.

Ten minutes later, someone in nearby Noakes Meadow heard a loud bang and car alarms whirring outside.

Running out of his home, he saw the stolen car screeching down the road after having crashed into several parked cars.

Police found the car burnt out in Great Chart the next day and Edmed was arrested a month later on September 25.

He admitted to stealing the car but denied charges of criminal damage, threatening criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon, arson and having no insurance.

Howevery, he was found guilty at Canterbury Crown Court of all the charges except arson and he was jailed for four years earlier this week.

Investigating officer, DC Samuel Minichiello said: "Edmed fully intended to scare his victims by causing damage to the vehicle they were in and threatening to set them alight.

"Fuelled by anger and aggression he then caused further damage by colliding with four other cars in a nearby road, putting innocent lives at risk.

"Thankfully Edmed will now serve time in prison for his reckless actions."

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