Convict sentenced to 67 years in prison

Her Majesty’s Prison is so familiar to Kentish Campbell that when he was sentenced to 67 years by the High Court, he showed no emotions. He’s already serving a 15-year sentence for rape.{{more}}

The 27-year-old Evesham resident pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the High Court to 11 charges that ranged from attempted murder to abduction and gun possession. However, the prosecution withdrew three of the charges.

On Wednesday, September 30, presiding judge Gertel Thom imposed a 20-year sentence on Campbell for the attempted murder charge. He was sentenced to 15 years for wounding with intent, 12 years each for possession of a firearm and attempted robbery, five years for unlawful use of a firearm and three years for abduction. However, he will only serve a total of 20 years since the sentences run concurrently.

The court heard that on January 12, 2008, at Argyle, Police Constable Joel Williams was seated in the back of a parked car with Desree Andrews at about 9 p.m. when a man in hooded shirt and a bandana over his face accosted both occupants.

Campbell then demanded money from the couple and while Williams was trying to get out of the car he was shot in his face. Luckily, he survived his attacker’s bullet.

Campbell then dragged Andrews from the vehicle and carried her about 700 feet away from the vehicle and demanded money from her also. He attempted to sexually assault Andrews but she managed to escape to a nearby supermarket.

Following a report made to the police, a cellular phone and cigarette lighter were recovered from the scene of the crime, which led to Campbell’s arrest.

In a caution statement given to police by Campbell, he admitted to committing the crimes on both individuals.

Campbell’s brushes with the law began in 2000 when he was convicted of ammunition possession. On May 2, 2008, Campbell was convicted in the Magistrate’s Court for discharging a firearm and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Continuing his lawlessness, on June 23, 2008, Campbell was again convicted of another matter, this time in the High Court, when he was slapped with a 15-year custodial sentence for rape and five years for robbery.

That same day he was also sentenced to 15 years for another robbery.

Reading out his laundry list of previous convictions, Justice Thom underscored the point that this gun-related crime has been prevalent in this country for quite a while and society needed to be protected.

“You had access to a gun which we cannot find and you have shown that you are able and willing to use one… You are a dangerous man,” Thom chided.

The judge added that the only two mitigating factors that went in his favour were the fact that he pleaded guilt at the first opportunity and that he cooperated fully with the police.