A violent tattooed criminal has been sentenced for crimes including theft and possession of a knife in Medway. Neil Dunkley’s prison sentence means the streets of Kent ‘will certainly be a safer place in his absence’, police said.
On October 5, 2022, a man went to a multi-occupancy property in Albany Road, Gillingham, to visit one of the flats. Once there he heard loud voices upstairs and went to see what was going on.
He was confronted by four men including Neil Dunkley, who were standing next to a damaged door. Dunkley said one of the occupants owed him cash and, as they were not there, demanded that the victim pay the debt – he then handed the men £120 and they left.
Dunkley was tracked down and arrested on February 1, 2023. He was charged and later pleaded guilty at court to theft.
In a second incident on January 14, 2024, Dunkley approached a man in Gillingham High Street and stole his phone.
The victim followed Dunkley, demanded that he return his property and then punched him. Dunkley fell to the floor and when he got back up, took a craft knife from his pocket and threatened the victim.
Patrols were alerted to the incident and, on arriving at the scene, arrested Dunkley. They also seized blades from his bag and recovered the victim’s phone from an adjacent wall.
He was charged and later pleaded guilty to theft and threatening a person with a knife. Dunkley was arrested again on February 3.
He was being treated by two paramedics in an ambulance when he became aggressive and pulled a knife from his pocket. Officers came to their assistance and Dunkley was detained, and was later charged with possessing a knife in a public place, pleading guilty at court.
On Thursday, January 1, Dunkley, 49, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to a total of two years’ imprisonment. Two counts of robbery were ordered to lie on file.
Detective Constable Emily Speyer said: “This criminal is a particularly violent man who regularly has a knife with him when committing offences. Unfortunately for him he has a distinctive appearance and local officers will often identify him as the culprit from descriptions given by witnesses.
“He is now starting a prison sentence and the streets of Medway will certainly be a safer place in his absence.”