Local News

The 'Sittingbourne Supporters Of Ukraine' held their two collection events yesterday (Saturday 12th March) at St Peter's Primary School (9am - 3pm) and Iwade Village Hall 10am-2pm.

Thousands of items were donated and dispatched later that day (via Croydon) directly to people in need of assistance in Eastern Europe fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Find out more about the local volunteer effort on the 'Sittingbourne Supporters Of Ukraine' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/378705797002538.

Well done to all the volunteers who gave up their time to get these essential items out to the people in immediate need - a fantastic effort that shows that Sittingbourne is a caring community!

A suspected burglar has appeared at court following an attempted break-in at a pharmacy in Milton Regis.

At around 10.15pm on Monday (7th March), Kent Police received a report that a window had been damaged at the business on Milton Regis High Street. Officers went to the scene and then started a search of the area. At around 11.35pm, a patrol saw a suspicious vehicle and requested the driver to stop.

It is alleged the car did not stop and, following a pursuit, it came to a halt in Basser Hill, Lower Halstow, where the driver was arrested.

George Bignall, aged 42 and of Middletune Avenue, was later charged with attempted burglary, dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a police officer, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen of blood for a test.

Mr Bignall appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday 9th March) where he was remanded to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 7th April.

A brutal, pre-planned and unprovoked assault which saw a teenage girl stabbed 60 times in Sittingbourne has led to a judge imposing a discretionary life sentence on a teenage boy.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, assaulted the victim in July 2021 and left her with numerous life-threatening injuries. 

Following an investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, he admitted attempted murder and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court earlier today (Friday 4th March).

He will serve a national tariff of 10 years and, should he be released from prison, he will be the subject of a whole life licence.

The victim of the case, a teenage girl, was found seriously injured in a field off Highsted Road, near the junction with Swanstree Avenue, by a dog walker at around 7.30am on Tuesday 22 July 2021.

She is likely to have been laying seriously injured in the spot for at least seven hours.

Kent Police officers were immediately deployed to the scene and were joined by crews from South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance, who airlifted the victim to a London hospital.

At hospital, she was found to have 60 stab wounds across her body. A total of 99 injuries were recorded by a pathologist who reviewed the case. 

Numerous people who knew the offender, and the victim, identified him as a possible suspect and officers detained him later that day.

A review of his phone led to detectives uncovering numerous deleted text messages which had been shared between the pair on the evening of the offence. Other messages saved on the phone showed he had a desire to stab the victim.

Immediately after the offence, he also carried out internet searches to try and learn how the police investigate murders.

A review of privately held CCTV, which was provided from numerous properties, captured the teenage boy walking to meet the victim late on 21 July. Most of the footage showed a silhouetted figure walking in the distance but, from it, officers were able to track his movements to and from the scene.

They were also able to establish that the pair met at around 11pm on Monday 21st July, with the girl last seen on camera at around 12.10am on Tuesday 22nd July.

With all the evidence in hand, Kent Police was granted authority to charge the offender the next day and he has been held on remand since.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber, the senior investigating officer for the case, told SFM News: "The brutality inflicted on the victim of this case was abhorrent and managing this investigation has been exceptionally harrowing. It is worrying that someone so young could have coldly calculated carrying out this sickening attack. Throughout the course of our enquiries, providing the victim with the best possible support was our absolute priority. She has demonstrated exceptional bravery throughout and her fighting spirit is shown by the physical recovery she has made. Despite being presented with a horrific case, the relentless professionalism of my officers meant we were able to unravel the crime, and detain the offender, within several hours".

He went on to add: "The officers who first responded to the call for help also reacted with exemplary professionalism, despite being presented with a dire set of circumstances. Their actions ultimately led to the victim surviving this horrific attack. I am pleased to see that this teenage boy has now been held to account. He presents a clear danger to the public and I sincerely hope that the support available to him in prison gets to the root cause of his dangerousness and prevents him from committing any further harm.’

The consultation on plans to try to unlock £20 million of funding for Sheerness has now closed.

Swale Borough Council say that they have received 324 responses from the public on plans that will become a bid to the government’s Levelling Up fund.

More than 75 per cent supporting the council’s plans to better connect the town centre by building a new indoor swimming pool, improving the leisure centre and health offer, expanding Sheppey College and creating new studio spaces at Master’s House.

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: “We’re really pleased with the level of engagement we’ve seen from local people during the Levelling Up bid consultation, and we’ll now carefully review all the comments and suggestions. Of the people that responded, 85 per cent supported our proposals to better connect the sea with the high street and town centre, 78 per cent supported the expansion of Sheppey College, 74 per cent supported further investment in Master’s House, and 76 per cent would like to see new leisure facilities at Beachfields. We’ve had suggestions to include soft play inside the new leisure complex and build a tidal pool for open water swimming.

Cllr Bonney then went on to add: “We’ve also received requests to emphasise the area’s history, heritage and natural environment, focus on college courses that are relevant to area and on include arts and culture at Master’s House. If we’re successful, this bid for capital funding from Government could bring much needed investment to the Island. The fund is expected to open in the spring, and we want to be ready with a strong bid that has the backing of the local community.”