A mother and daughter from Ramsgate who stole from elderly people and used the victims’ bank cards to splash out on cigarettes and alcohol have been jailed.
In May Dionne Clarke and her daughter Cherrelle Clarke robbed a man of his wallet in a Canterbury supermarket car park, and in the following month, stole a purse from a woman when they pretended to help her by carrying her shopping up some steps in Ramsgate. The stolen bank cards were then used in shops, a café and a pub where they were found by officers and arrested.
On Wednesday 25 May, Kent Police was called to a report of a robbery. A man in his 80s was by his car in a supermarket car park in Canterbury when he felt someone taking his wallet. He tried to keep hold of it but a woman pulled the wallet with force, causing the victim to fall to the ground and suffer grazes.
An investigation by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad later identified the offenders as Dionne and Cherelle Clark who were seen throwing the wallet into a river after removing the bank cards.
The card was used twice at a shop, then to pay for a taxi, and then a further four times at a store in Sturry.
On Monday 6 June, a woman in her 80s was making her way up some steps near Newington Road, Ramsgate when the two Clarkes approached and offered to help her. They suddenly left and it was a short time later when purchasing groceries that the victim realised her purse containing £145 in cash and her bank card had been stolen. She reported it to the bank who informed her that her bank card had been used multiple times.
Swift actions by Crime Squad detectives identified the Clarkes as the suspects and they were traced to a pub in Ramsgate where they were caught red-handed with the stolen bank card and arrested.
Dionne Clarke, 57, and Cherrelle Clarke, 29, both of Manston Road, Ramsgate, were charged with robbery, theft and fraud offences which they admitted at Canterbury Crown Court.
They were sentenced yesterday (September 1). Dionne was sentenced to three years and eight months, and Cherelle was sentenced to five years.
Senior investigating officer Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson said: “The Clarkes were callous in their approach, targeting elderly people and either forcefully taking what was not theirs or tricking their victim with fake kindness while they stole.
“They then spent someone else’s money on tobacco and alcohol. I hope they use their time in custody to seriously question their choices in life and perhaps realise how despicable their behaviour is.”
Thanet’s best! Now on holiday for a few years… Thou shall not steal!
Holiday, yes. But they should pay for their keep, not the tax payer, as should all the people sentenced to jail. Why should honest law abiding people pay for their food, lighting, electricity, and everything else.
Paul it would be a good thing if it was possible. They have also lost lost there house if it is rented I doubt if they worked if on U-Credit then they loose the lot.. When they get out in 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years they will have nothing and we will foot the bill ot top of everything else whilst inside, no recompense to the people they stole from ( unless banks did ) it soon adds up to thousands of £, at least they cannot rob from anyone for a short while.
Sorry, they should have thought of that. Im glad you like paying for them while their inside. Their relatives should pay for them,
not us, even if they are on government payouts.
Paul I think you have read me wrong I its how I wrote it I’m not in favour of paying anything for these scum in fact anyone who is guilty of crime, but how can they pay for it unless they work this almost impossible to do as we have a shortage of overseers to watch them, a documentary a few months back was saying that they are short of them and half of the criminals don’t turn up or are always late that’s for those who are sentenced to do work in the community as recompense for their crime, those inside if there is work it’s payed to them and not for the upkeep of the prisoner the system is wrong it’s to cosy inside, your better of being inside jail for benefits wise only thing you don’t have is your freedom. Hope you understand me,
Yes 👍
Totally agree paul,if they come out with nothing,though,shouldn’t do the crime
Should read tough not though
Looks like they spent it on Meth as well.
Can they be put to work clearing all the weeds in Ramsgate and everywhere else in Thanet?
This is nothing less than they deserve. When they are let back in amongst normal people they should have to earn what they need.
Ugly pair
These prison sentences are too long. And too expensive. And too soft. A much shorter but harsher time would be a better deterrent. Water, bread and vitamin pills. No media. No visits. Much cheaper.
57!!She has led a hard life!
Holiday? What awful holidays have you been going to in order to compare a holiday to a prison cell?
Bring back the rack!