Mark Scamp, a repeat offender with more than 80 crimes to his name, recently pleaded guilty to his 23rd criminal conviction, marking the latest chapter in his criminal history that began with vehicle theft in 2020.

Scamp appeared in court on Wednesday to be sentenced for his latest five offences. His lawyer, Phil Rowley, explained that Scamp had resorted to crime after his last release to fund his drug habit. The court also heard that he might have PTSD after his father was murdered when he was 12.

However, Judge Douglas Marks Moore said that he could not blame Scamp’s “appalling record for petty crime” on his parent’s tragic death. He was sentenced to a total of 19 months in prison.

“Here is a gentleman who has absolutely no respect for anybody else’s property,” said the judge.

“You have been to prison many times, and I am told you don’t like it. Well, you’re not meant to like it, and if you don’t stop your criminal activity, you are wasting your life.”

Scamp’s criminal history

Scamp, of Canterbury, was first jailed in 2020 for stealing six vehicles from various locations across Kent.

In September 2021, according to prosecutor Laurence Imrie, Scamp was found to be carrying a “toolkit” of instruments that included cloned number plates, bolt croppers, a crowbar, and a car key programming device at a police stop. 

He had only been out of jail for three months before being arrested and then sent back to prison for going equipped for theft. He had also been recalled to prison in May last year but was released after six weeks when his parole period ended.

This year, Scamp stole a £500 e-scooter from a Pure Gym car park in Canterbury in February. In April, CCTV footage captured Scamp giving bolt croppers to another man near The Range in Canterbury, who then used them to steal a £550 bicycle.

He used a stolen bank card to buy £67 worth of goods from a Co-op store in Minster in July. The court heard that the card had been stolen from a wallet left overnight in a car without causing any damage. 

Scamp told police he had found the bank card, and the evidence showed no sign of him stealing the card. However, he admitted breaching his suspended sentence order. 

In August, Scamp was finally arrested again and charged with theft, fraud, and going equipped for theft. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Before his arrest, police had released a search warrant for Scamp, including his photo, and urged people to call 999 if they see him.

Theft in Kent

Based on data from Pumplot, Kent County has a crime rate of 47.2 crimes per 1,000 workday people per year as of October 2023. This is 32 percent higher than the national crime rate, making Kent one of the top 20 most dangerous counties in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

UK Crime Rate data reveals 539 burglaries, 98 robberies, and 117 thefts, among other crimes recorded in August 2023.

This is why it is vital to keep your house and vehicles safe because criminals like Scamp are looking for easy targets. By taking simple precautions, you can make it more difficult for them to succeed and protect yourself from the inconvenience and financial losses that can result from any crime.

For your house, install proper lighting, CCTV cameras, intruder alarms, and secure windows and doors with double locks. Never leave your home unattended without being properly locked.

If you have a garage in your house, park your vehicles there. If you don’t, lock them securely. Park responsibly and in well-lit, staffed, or Park Mark-certified car parks.

Even if a thief breaks into your car, additional physical security measures can help prevent them from driving away. Sold Secure has rated various products that can help, such as steering wheel locks, pedal boxes, and gear stick locks.

Lastly, look into hiring the help of security companies like Marengo if you need help with how to fortify the security of your property and vehicles.