Masked burglar jailed after terrorising family

A masked burglar has been jailed for a house raid where members of a Kent family were "terrorised in their own home".

Rogel Dumitru, 20, from Bexleyheath, and his accomplices targeted a property near Luton Road, Chatham, in the early hours of 8 September.

Armed with bladed weapons and wearing gloves, masks and balaclavas, they woke the family and assaulted one of them before stealing two watches and two mobile phones.

Dumitru, who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday.

Kent Police said they were alerted shortly after the burglary and officers saw men running from the area.

"A mask was recovered near the victims’ home and a forensic examination recovered DNA belonging to Dumitru," said police in a statement following sentencing.

"Investigators were able to show Dumitru and his car had travelled from Bexleyheath to Chatham accompanied by the occupants of a van, before and after the incident."

Dumitru, alongside his accomplices Denis Calin, 20, and 36-year-old Robert Maytum, both from Chatham, and Ion Vasile, 22, from Maidstone, were arrested later that month.

Dumitru's accomplices were previously sentenced on 14 June.

Vasile and Maytum, both admitted aggravated burglary, while Calin was imprisoned for seven years following a trial.

Vasile was sentenced to eight years and five months’ imprisonment, while Maytum was jailed for seven years and two months.

Det Con Dan Bister said: "Dumitru played a significant part in this appalling crime and is now joining the three other offenders in prison.

"This was a premeditated crime during which a family were terrorised in their own home.

"The threats with weapons will have left a lasting impact on the victims and those responsible should be ashamed of their actions."

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