More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A 17-year-old girl has told how she was robbed by a hooded gang at knifepoint after meeting someone interested in buying her Playstation.
Keira Deverson, of Island Road in Sturry, has been unable to sleep since the terrifying incident, in which she says she was threatened with a blade.
The Herne Bay High School pupil says she had advertised her PS4 for sale on social media app Snapchat.
At about 8.30pm on Monday, she and her 15-year-old brother Lewis drove to Market Street car park in Herne Bay to meet a potential buyer.
But she says things took a shocking turn when a young man, who arrived with others, pulled out a large knife and threatened her with it.
She claims her brother also had a brick thrown at him before he was able to call police after the suspects fled.
“I just completely froze up - I didn’t know what to do at all," she says.
“I managed to get in my car and turn on the ignition. I was just shaking, I was just so scared, mainly for Lewis. I didn’t care about anything else.
“I drove right to the edge of the car park so we were hidden away, and called my mum.
“Lewis was on the phone to the police. I was just in tears - I couldn’t really think.”
Her dad, Pete, rushed to meet them. He picked Keira and Lewis up in his car before driving around to see if he could spot the suspects, who were nowhere to be seen, and heading to the police station.
Keira has not been back to school since the ordeal.
“I couldn’t really sleep at all after,” she said. “I was scared to turn the light off in my bedroom when I went to bed.”
Keira has also been left too scared to drive her Renault Clio.
“I don’t want to look at it,” she said. “You just don’t ever think something like that will happen to you. And it’s scary.”
Mum Natalie, 36, says the incident has left her angry.
"Everyone in the family and friends are supporting Keira and Lewis, and their schools have been amazing," she said.
“It’s not the kind of thing we’ve ever come across, and they are both good children - they’re quiet, they don’t mix with anyone like that.
"They’re not used to things like that.”
Five arrests have since been made by police.
DI Nick Greenan, from the Canterbury Local Policing Team, said: "We were called at 8.48pm on Monday to a robbery in Market Street, Herne Bay.
"Officers established the offender had left the scene and the victim was safe and uninjured. A patrol was deployed and additional checks for CCTV footage were carried out remotely.
"While patrols were en-route, officers were informed the victim had safely met with a family member who was driving them away from the scene and at 9.25pm they attended Herne Bay Police Station to provide further information.
"On Tuesday officers seized a stolen games console following a vehicle stop in Broad Oak Road, Canterbury. Three people, aged 36, 18 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of handling goods and have been bailed, pending further enquiries.
"Today two teenage boys, aged 17 and 15, were also arrested on suspicion of robbery and remain in custody as enquiries continue."
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to call 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/230659/19.
