Two thugs have been locked up after a honey trap was set for a man who was forced to rob a store armed with a meat cleaver.

Rachel Plumb had promised Gregory Norfield, who suffers from Aspergers Syndrome, an "intimate evening" after they met on a dating site.

But she did not meet him as planned in Central Park, in Dartford, and he was instead waylaid by Kieran Hedges and Tommy Meyers.

Meyers, 22, was jailed for four years and nine months, while 20-year-old Hedges was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in youth custody.

Plumb, 25, was spared immediate custody and sentenced to 16 months - suspended for two years - with 100 hours' unpaid work and a curfew for four months from 8pm to 7am.

Hedges, Meyers, both of no fixed address, and Plumb, of Bridges Drive, Dartford, admitted conspiracy to steal. Hedges and Meyers also admitted blackmail and attempted robbery.

Also appearing for sentence was Joe Hedges, 20, of Vicarage Road, Halling, who was convicted of another robbery after a trial.

Meyers admitted the offence and Kieran Hedges was acquitted. Meyers asked for 16 burglaries to be considered.

Kieran Hedges also admitted burgling a house in Allhallows and asked for nine other similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Joe Hedges was sentenced to two years' youth custody.

Meyers and Kieran Hedges were already serving sentences for robbery. Both were
handcuffed in the dock.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Hedges told Mr Norfield at the park on January 14 last year he was Plumb's brother and they would take him to see her.

But they first tried to force him to steal beer from Tesco's supermarket in East Hill and then to raid a Co-op store in Temple Hill.

When he failed to steal the beer, they became angry and took his mobile phone and wallet.

Meyers pulled a meat cleaver from his jacket and told Mr Norfield to rob the Co-op, taking all the money from the till and cigarettes.

Meyers and Hedges waited outside the store and goaded on Mr Norfield. He demanded the money and when shop assistant Tom Hall refused, he struck the counter with the meat cleaver, telling him: "What about now?"

Told by Mr Hall he could not open the till unless a purchase was made, Mr Norfield asked: "What can I buy for 20p?" He picked up a bar of chocolate and put it on the counter.

Mr Hall managed to activate an alarm and told Mr Norfield the police had been contacted. He walked out and officers arrived.

Judge Statman said mother-of-two Plumb, who is 30 weeks pregnant, set the honey trap with the promise of sex at the direction of Meyers, who used and intimidated a vulnerable victim.

He told Meyers and Kieran Hedges: "Both of you, I regret to say, are bullies."

The judge told Plumb: "I find it impossible to comprehend what was going on in your head on entering this conspiracy.

"Make no bones about it, you played a key role in the conspiracy, despite the fact you did not turn up at the park."

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