Sittingbourne

Two of Swale Borough Council’s tennis courts have been refurbished thanks to a partnership between the council and the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association). 

The park tennis courts at Milton Recreation Ground and King George V Playing Fields in Sittingbourne are now open to the public after going through extensive improvement works delivered by the LTA through its Park Tennis Project, alongside Swale Borough Council. 

Investigators have issued a CCTV image after a pensioner’s bag was reported stolen in Sittingbourne yesterday (Monday 29th January) morning.

The incident happened in Harold Road at around 11.15am when the victim, a woman in her 80s, was approached by a man who is alleged to have grabbed the bag before running from the scene. The bag was recovered having been discarded nearby with the purse still missing.

A prolific shop thief has been jailed just two days after he violently assaulted a member of staff in Sittingbourne earlier this week.

Jack Wiley attacked an employee at the Co-op covenience store in Murston after he was caught stealing alcohol and food.

Last night (Sunday 21st January) Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a fire at a derelict pub.

Five fire engines and a height vehicle responded, and crews tackled a fire on the first floor of the former Kemsley Arms Public House on Ridham Avenue.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause is not yet known.

Kent Police also attended and have confirmed to SFM News that “the fire is being treated as suspicious.”

A prolific local shoplifter has been returned to jail after pleading guilty to several thefts.

Lisa Willet was serving a suspended prison sentence when she chose to commit further shoplifting offences in Sittingbourne.

The GMB Union has raised fears over the parent company of Stonegate Pubs, who owns a number of local "watering holes" and their current refinancing bid.

Almost 200 Stonegate pubs across Kent could be “at risk” of closure after private equity parent company TDR capital seeks to refinance £2.5 billion of debt the union warns.

Some local pubs that could be affected include The Beauty Of Bath, Bunters, The Red Lion  and The Vineyard in Sittingbourne along with The Sun Inn in Bredgar and The Fruiterers Arms in Rodmersham.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called, at around 5:00pm, to reports of a fire at a flat yesterday (Thursday 11th January) evening.

Two fire engines attended and crews, wearing breathing apparatus, extinguished the flames at the residential property on Caithorpe Close on the Regent Quay development.

Firefighters also used a high-pressured fan to clear the property of smoke. 

The cause is not yet known. 

A suspect has been detained by neighbourhood officers following reports of a robbery and theft in Sittingbourne.

On Saturday 16th December 2023, a man was walking in the High Street when he was allegedly threatened by a man he did not know. The victim handed over a quantity of cash and later alerted the police.

Later the same day, meat valued at more than £40 was reportedly stolen from the Co-op in Gadby Road. On Thursday 28th December, constables from the town’s community safety unit were on patrol in the High Street area when they arrested a man.

Swale Borough Council is deploying uniformed marshals to help keep Sheerness and Sittingbourne town centres safe.  

The street marshals, who will be operating over the school holidays, are one of several initiatives being rolled out as part of the Safer Streets campaign.    

The council, through the Community Safety Partnership, worked with the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner to secure the funding needed for the campaign from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund.  

The victim of a violent and controlling man from Sittingbourne has seen him jailed.

During 2022, the woman was in a relationship with Nuno Rodrigues and suffered constant assaults at his hands. The abuse included an incident when Rodrigues forcefully pinned her to the ground whilst placing his hands around her neck. This prevented her from breathing and caused visible bruising.