Luke Crossman, 22, has been jailed for three years after shooting two residents with an air rifle when they tried to intervene during a disturbance in East Malling last October.
Crossman pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on 24 September 2026 to possession of an imitation firearm, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray, and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, Kent Police said.
According to the force, at around 11pm on 15 October 2025 Crossman went to a property near New Road armed with a hammer and smashed the rear window of a car and a pane of glass in the front door. He then went to Kingfisher Road, where he fired air rifle pellets at two residents who tried to intervene. Both were injured.
Police were called at 11.53pm, but Crossman had left before officers arrived. He was found and arrested several hours later, nearly 10km away, and an air rifle believed to have been used in the incident was recovered from a black Audi.
He was also given a six-year restraining order banning him from contacting one of the victims. Three further charges, making threats to kill, possession of a bladed article in a public place and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, were ordered to lie on file, meaning they will not be pursued without the court’s permission.
Detective Constable Carter Scopes, the investigating officer, said: “Our officers relentlessly pursued the violent offender through the night and located him nearly 10km away. The swift recovery of evidence consequently helped seal his fate.”
He added: “We commend the bravery of the victims in this case, who tried their utmost to contend with Crossman’s unpredictable violent outburst and keep each other safe. We hope the custodial sentence offers them some comfort.”