Man Jailed For Manslaughter After Town Centre Death

A violent offender who chased a man into traffic with a machete has been jailed for 16 years.

Chris Maclean, 43, admitted to the manslaughter of Jay Gerrett, who died after being hit by a car on St Michael’s Road, Sittingbourne.

At around 9.10pm on Saturday 2nd August 2025, another man, Jack Hunt, led Mr Gerrett to Pembury Street to sell him drugs. A conversation occurred between the two in the road, which quickly soured and escalated into shouting.

Hunt, 33, then called for support from Maclean and another man, who exited their homes on Pembury Court and joined the altercation. Maclean goaded his victim into fighting before brandishing a large knife, swinging it wildly at his body and face.

Mr Gerrett tried to run away, pursued by the knife-wielding Maclean, and fell down a grass verge into oncoming traffic on St Michael’s Road. He was hit by a car and died immediately.

Maclean was arrested in Canterbury on 5 August following CCTV and house to house enquiries, during which he pretended to have no knowledge of the incident. Upon his arrest, officers uncovered a quantity of cocaine on his person.

Maclean was charged with murder and possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, the latter of which he pleaded guilty to at a Maidstone Crown Court hearing on 5th December 2025.

 Denying he had murdered Mr Gerrett, a three week trial was set to begin on Tuesday 24 February 2026. However, on the first day, Maclean offered a plea of manslaughter which was accepted by investigators and the Crown Prosecution Service. He also admitted to the drug dealing offence.

He was sentenced at the same court on Thursday (26th February) to 16 years in prison. He was also deemed a dangerous offender.

Co-defendant Hunt, of Platinum Way, Borden, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply and will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 1st May.

 Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Traynor told FM News: "Maclean delayed accepting his responsibility in causing the death of Jay Gerrett until the last minute, heaping anguish on his victim’s family. We are very pleased that the investigation we completed has led to justice and the jailing of a violent man who had no hesitation in wielding a machete at a stranger in public. We hope today’s sentence brings some closure to Jay’s family."