Local News

Secondary school pupils across Sittingbourne were able to pick up their GCSE Results from 8am this morning (Thursday 22nd August).

Nationally the pass rate across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has fallen for the third year running – with 67.6% of all grades at 4/C and above. Since 2017 scores have been used in a numerical scale with grades being ranked from 1 (which is the lowest) to 9 (the highest). A standard pass is considered to be a 4 and a strong pass as a 5.

The Sittingbourne School (TSS) have had "a range of excellent GCSE and BTEC results". One standout student was Dami, she achieved nine GCSEs, including a Grade 9 in both Maths and History along with three grade 8s in Biology, Chemistry and Computing and Physics.

Headteacher Nick Smith told SFM News: “This year we have seen some fantastic GCSE and Vocational results for students across the subjects. We are proud of all of our students who have consistently demonstrated dedication, resilience and hard work; today's results are a testament to their commitment. We wish them every success as they embark on the exciting next chapter of their lives."

Fulston Manor School were also celebrating today telling SFM News there was "an improvement in the number of students achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and Maths". Top performers there included Bethany who achieved three Grade 9s, two Grade 8s, one Grade 7 and one Grade 6.

Headteacher Susie Burden told SFM News: “I would like to praise all our students for their efforts and our staff for all of the support they have given them throughout their time here.”

At Borden Grammar fifty of their Year 11 students achieved five or more top grades (7-9) with 20 of these achieving 9 or more GCSE top grades (7-9). Grade 9 is only achieved by less than 2% nationally and this year, 2 Borden students achieved 6 Grade 9s, one achieved 8 Grade 9s and one student unbelievably achieved all 11 GCSEs at Grade 9.

At Highsted Grammar 15 pupils gained a clean sweep of top grades across 10 or more subjects: Angelique B, Kamilla B, Lucy B, Victoria B, Hope D, Olivia H, Chloe L, Isobel M, Summer McK, Adedolapo O, Ruby P, Matilda P, Yolla S, Katie S and Angelina T.

A mother of three young children from Sittingbourne was recently able to reunite with the ambulance service colleagues who helped to save her life last year.

Gemma Ledger, now aged 39, suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in the early hours of the morning on Monday 23rd January 2023, while her three children now aged two, five and 13 were asleep next door.

Gemma’s partner of 18 years, Richard, woke to what sounded like Gemma snoring, but when he tried to wake her, he found her gasping for air. Gemma became unconscious moments later and Richard immediately called 999, where he was instructed on how to perform effective CPR prior to the arrival of ambulance teams.

Arriving on scene was Operational Team Leader, Paul Ellis, Trainee Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Graham Seal, Ambulance Paramedic, Tobias Hiller-Wood, and Critical Care Paramedic, Kieren Pugh.

Crews administered an astonishing 10 shocks with a defibrillator before achieving a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and stabilising Gemma before taking her to Kings College Hospital in London.

Richard told SFM News: “The drive to Kings was one of the scariest of my life. It felt like it took forever. We were told that Gemma had a five per cent chance of survival for an out of hospital cardiac arrest, so I went through a range of emotions while travelling up to London. I can’t thank Graham enough for trying to keep my mind occupied while driving as quick as he could to Kings.”

Gemma spent a week in intensive care, before being moved to a general ward for a further two weeks recovery.

Both Gemma and Richard were recently able to visit South East Coast Ambulance’s Medway Make Ready Centre in Gillingham where they were reunited with the ambulance service colleagues who responded to Gemma, as well as being given a tour of the facility, including the Emergency Operations Centre.

Gemma told SFM News: “I have no memory of the event itself, until I woke up in hospital days later, so it was an eye-opener for me to meet those who helped me. I am so appreciative of their efforts and truly wouldn’t be here today without them.”

Richard went on to say: “Originally, we thought that Gemma had a low chance of survival, so it is truly a miracle that she’s here today. A big thank you to the team, they all do a great job every day and are lovely people. Many thanks from the bottom of our hearts.”

Graham told SFM News: “It’s rare that we ever get to meet a cardiac arrest survivor, and so I am so pleased that Gemma and Richard wanted to meet us. Richard’s good quality CPR played a huge factor as to why Gemma is still here today, and we can’t thank him enough for starting the process before our arrival.”

Gemma is on a long road to recovery and is taking every day as it comes. She suffers with a number of side-effects including tiredness, and since the incident has successfully been fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

A Sittingbourne sex offender, who targeted children online and in his home town, has been jailed.

On Tuesday 20th February 2024, Ben Murphy went to a park in Sittingbourne and approached two children who were playing on the swings. Murphy made an indecent suggestion to them and they told him to go away. He ran from the scene while the distressed children fled the park and informed their parents.

The incident was reported to Kent Police and investigators examined CCTV in the area. A local officer recognised Murphy in some of the footage and he was arrested two days later. Murphy, of Raite Green, Milton Regis, was charged with inciting a child to engage in a sexual act and was remanded pending a court appearance.

At the time of this offence, Murphy had already been due to attend court to be sentenced for multiple sex offences involving children between January 2020 and March 2021. During this earlier period, he had contacted five separate children who did not know him, on social media platforms. Murphy asked his victims to send images of themselves, some in their underwear and others carrying out sexual acts.

In one conversation he incited a child to abuse their two-month old relative, and offered to pay her £1,000. Murphy also sent indecent images and videos of himself to the victims and asked for private calls so he could further engage in sexual abuse. On another occasion in February 2021, he approached a further child in a Sittingbourne park and asked them to carry out a sexual act. The child refused and fled the scene.

Murphy had been arrested for these earlier offences and had pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to six indictments of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and four of possessing indecent images of children. Some of these images were of the most serious category. As he was awaiting sentencing and subject to strict court bail conditions, he went on to commit the most recent offence when he attended the local park in February 2024.

He pleaded not guilty to this later offence and was convicted following a trial last Friday (9th August), to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. On Tuesday (13th August), the 31-year-old was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment of which he will have to serve two thirds before he is eligible for parole. On his release he will have to serve a further two years on licence. Murphy will also have to sign the Sex Offenders Register and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period.

Kent Police Detective Constable Deniz Aslan told SFM News: "Murphy is a depraved individual who poses a considerable risk to young children in person or online. He made vile suggestions and sent indecent images to his vulnerable victims who were very distressed by his actions."

PC Nadine Stanton, who investigated the most recent incident, told SFM News: "Murphy showed himself incapable of following restrictions imposed by the court and a prison sentence was the only possible outcome. We would like to commend the young victims and their parents who have supported our investigation throughout and assisted us to bring this predator to justice. I hope the prison sentence imposed on Murphy will allow them to start to move on from their ordeal."

Kent Police have put in place a Dispersal Order covering Sittingbourne town centre across this weekend.

It's been issued after concerns from residents and business owners over recent incidents of antisocial behaviour throughout the area.

The enforcement earlier today (Friday 9th August) at 2pm and will run until 10pm on Sunday (11th August) night and covers the High Street, East Street, Roman Square, The Avenue of Remembrance, William Street, Grafton Road, The Butts, the entire section of the A2 that passes through the town along with Milton Road and Fountain Street.

The dispersal order gives Kent Police officers additional powers to move on anyone causing a nuisance and if necessary arrest those who return to the area after being spoken to.

Inspector Vanessa Foster, of The Swale Community Safety Partnership, told SFM News “We are committed to ensuring residents and visitors feel safe when out and about and we will not tolerate intimidating or disorderly behaviour. Officers will be patrolling the area and anyone found causing a nuisance will be required to leave. Any that choose to return once dispersed can expect to be detained.”

If you see any instances of antisocial behaviour you can report directly online via the Kent Police website or, a crime is in progress, call 999.