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CCTV shows moment Jaguar crashes into Londis in Coxheath causing £20,000 worth of damage

By: Ben Austin baustin@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 14:56, 06 February 2024

Footage has been captured of the moment a car ploughs into the front doors of a Londis store.

CCTV shows the silver Jaguar accelerating at speed over a pedestrian crossing before hitting a bump and swerving into the front of the shop.

The “scary” incident happened just after 1am on Saturday (February 3) and caused more than £20,000 worth of damage to the branch in Heath Road, Coxheath, near Maidstone.

On impact the force caused the doors to be torn off their hinges and multiple shelves and displays were destroyed inside.

In the wake of the crash the driver can be seen clambering out of the expensive vehicle before returning to speak to a passenger.

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The second man then climbs out of the car on the driver’s side before both slowly make their way out of the building, seemingly uninjured.

Store owner Sham Singh Bains believes the pair are “lucky to be alive”.

He told KentOnline: “Nobody got hurt that’s the main thing. How they didn’t hit the poles outside, or the walls I don’t know.

“I’m surprised the car fit through the door. They also narrowly avoided the beam inside as well.

“If they hit that I’m sure someone would have been killed.”

One of the shop clerks, Emmanouela Prifti, lives in a flat above the store with her 10-year-old daughter.

They had just finished a day shift on Friday at 9pm not long before the crash.

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She said: “I can remember I heard something but what alerted me was the alarm.

The jag after crashing into the Londis. Picture: Emmanouela Prifti

“I checked out my window on the opposite side and didn’t see anything but that’s when Sham phoned me to say there is a car in the shop can you go downstairs, please as the police are on their way.”

Emma met the police downstairs and confirmed she worked in the store but was concerned for their safety.

She said: “They [police] told me to get a trolley and a chair and sit in front of the doors with a trolley and a chair.

“I asked what happens if people come and nick something and they just said go outside with a jumper and phone up again but there was nothing more they could do. I was scared.”

The store’s owner arrived at around 4 am and helped start the major two-day clean-up operation on-site.

Sham, from Southall, West London, said: “The staff were amazing. A lot of them came in on their days off to help clean up. They came in automatically and wanted to help.

Tire tracks leading straight through the doors of the Londis

“The people who live next door as well helped and others in the village came down and helped.

“The mess was mainly made by the soft drinks but we had our sliding doors inside and shelves everywhere.

Despite the destruction, the shop remained open thanks to people rallying round to help.

Sham made calls to companies who helped refit temporary doors by 2pm on the Saturday and by 7pm the next day the mess had been cleaned, shelves rebuilt and stock replaced.

Sham added: “People were amazed how we did it, for two days from opening until closing we were cleaning up.”

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However, Sham predicts he has lost more than £20,000 in damages and loss of items.

He said: “I am going to the police to ask for the names of those involved so I can look to make an insurance claim but if nothing comes from that I will look at private prosecution.”

According to both Emma and Sham, police have not come to see the CCTV footage at the time of writing.

A spokesman for the police said: “We were called after a car collided with a building in Heath Road, Coxheath. Officers attended and there were no reported injuries.

“A 21-year-old man from Maidstone was arrested on suspicion of driving while over the legal alcohol limit and taken into custody. He was later released without charge.”

It is understood an investigation remains ongoing.

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