Local News

Five charges have been made against a man accused of a stabbing in Sittingbourne.

Shane Andrews is alleged to have assaulted the victim, who is in his 20s, in Quartz Way on the afternoon of Tuesday 13th August. The injured person is expected to make a full recovery.

Mr Andrews, 22, of Ledger Close, Sittingbourne, was arrested on suspicion of assault in Greenwich the next day. After being arrested, he is alleged to have been found in possession of three knives.

He was later charged with grievous bodily harm and four counts of possessing a knife in a public place and appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court today (Friday 16th August).

At the hearing, Mr Andrews was remanded in custody and will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 13th September.

A scout group from Sittingbourne has received a donation from the Kent Police Property Fund.

The 10th Sittingbourne Scout Group, which is attached to Grove Park School, was presented with a £500 cheque from Kent Police recently. The group offers young people the opportunity to develop character, employability and practical skills such as cooking and first aid in a safe and supportive environment.

The money was made available by the force's Property Fund, which distributes money from the sale of unclaimed lost property or items seized during police operations. Money raised from the fund is given to local groups which provide a service to communities in Kent throughout the year. Inspector Tom Mepstead, from Kent Police, presented the money to Group Scout Leader Elaine Nappey and scout Henry Hearn (as pictured above).

Mrs Nappey tld SFM News: "Fundraising is a big part of what we do and we are very grateful for the money donated by the Kent Police Property Fund. This money will help towards the purchase of new equipment and enable us to continue delivering a varied programme providing young people with opportunities to develop their skills and work towards earning their badges."

An arsonist who started two fires close to oxygen tanks and MRI scanners at Medway Maritime Hospital has been jailed for life.

Luke French entered the hospital grounds in September 2018 and started the fires less than a metre away from lorries containing the scanners.

The 29-year-old, of Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered and was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (5th July).

The court heard that at around 10pm on Wednesday 5th September Luke French walked onto the hospital grounds and set rubbish being stored in an outdoor cage alight. A nearby wheelie bin was also set on fire.

The bins were less than a metre away from two mobile MRI scanners that were being stored in articulated lorries and close to oxygen tanks.

A member of hospital staff was quick to the scene and extinguished the fire before it caused significant damage to the bins or medical equipment.

Security officers then chased French away from the vicinity and, following an area search, Kent Police officers detained him at around midnight.

CCTV evidence clearly captured French committing the offence and he was charged the following day. He has been remanded in custody since his arrest and must serve a minimum of five years in prison.

Police Constable Dennigan Tyson, Kent Police's investigating officer for the case, told SFM News: "although no injuries were caused from this offence, French's reckless actions needlessly endangered a huge amount of lives and the consequences could have been much more severe were it not for the quick actions of hospital staff. In addition to the immediate danger of the fire, lifesaving medical equipment worth over £1,000,000 could easily have been damaged and this would have caused a huge amount of disruption for medical staff and people needing the equipment. French's actions prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, that he presents a very real threat to public safety and the strong sentence imposed by the courts means he is no longer a danger."

A Kemsley man, caught transporting scrap metal without a licence, is nearly a thousand pounds out of pocket after being prosecuted by Swale Borough Council.

David Varrier, of Ypres Drive, was stopped as part of a joint operation between the council and Kent Police in June 2018. He was found to be carrying the waste on Newbridge Avenue, Sittingbourne, without the necessary waste carrier certificate or waste transfer notes.

He was issued with a notice requiring him to produce the right documents, which he failed to comply with, and was issued fixed penalty notices which he failed to pay.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, told SFM News: "We take these kinds of offences very seriously and will take whatever action is necessary to crack down on rogue traders and keep the borough tidy. We ask people who need to get rid of waste to do their part. Using unlicensed traders can result in your waste being fly-tipped, leaving local council taxpayers to foot the bill to clear up the mess. Having the right licence to transport waste shows businesses are legitimate and will dispose of waste responsibly.Anyone who takes away waste must have a licence. Simply ask to see it, and if they can't show one, find someone who can. If you don't, and the waste is found dumped, you could be prosecuted."

Mr Varrier pleaded guilty to two offences at Medway Magistrates Court last Wednesday (5th June) and was fined £360 for each offence and ordered to pay a £36 victim surcharge and £205 in costs. A collection order was granted should there be any issues with payment.

If you want to check whether someone is licenced to carry waste you can visit the Environment Agency website or call 03708 506506.

For more information about fly-tipping, and what Swale Borough Council is doing locally to tackle it, visit www.swale.gov.uk/fly-tipping.