The brother of rapper Stefflon Don told a jury he had no need to rob a Yalding family as he had a famous sister he could rely on for cash.

Friends and family of three men sensationally acquitted of robbery began shouting, clapping and waving at the jury at Maidstone Crown Court and were reprimanded by Judge Philip Statman.

He had demanded just minutes earlier that the verdicts be delivered in total silence in the public gallery - but they ignored his order and shouted "thank you" towards the jury members.

Kodee Powell, Stephan Allen, and Jhabril Freeman had denied robbing Thomas Fellowes and Chloe Smith of a mobile phone, watches, and cash in March 2018 - and having an imitation firearm intending to carry out a serious offence.

Allen, the brother of Clapton rap star Stephanie Allen, known as Stefflon Don, told the jury he had no need to take part in a robbery as his sister was famous and if he needed cash he could ask her.

The three were also acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Fellowes and three others, Robert Powell, 49, Asif Malik, 43, and Amy Wallace, 31, of Lancashire Road, Maidstone, and were found not guilty of encouraging or assisting in the commission of a serious offence.

They had also been accused of going to the caravan in Benover Road with an imitation firearm - but were acquitted.

Powell, 24, had earlier admitted possessing a 15-inch Rambo style knife in a separate incident and received a 16-month jail sentence.

The trial lasted three months and the jury took just under 24 hours before returning its verdicts.

Afterwards, Judge Statman excused them from sitting on a jury for 25 years.

Later he gave Allen a 22-month jail sentence for perverting the course of justice after trying to persuade someone not to give evidence - but as Allen had served time on remand he was released immediately.

The prosecution had alleged that masked robbers, armed with a gun, a knife, and wrench, attacked Mr Fellowes and his family.

It was claimed the intruders also threatened to shoot Ms Smith before punching her in the face.

Mr Fellowes had armed himself with a machete after hearing noises near his home in the middle of the night, the jury was told.

Powell, 24, of no fixed address, Stephan Allen, 26, from Chigwell in Essex, and Jhabril Freeman, 42, from East Dulwich, London, had all denied robbery and having an imitation firearm.

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