Local News

Pic: Shabul and Kabul (chef) both owners of Maharani...

Britain's 'korma kings' were crowned on Monday (26th November) evening 'second to naan' with Sittingbourne's very own Maharani Restaurant (in West Street) receiving the highest accolade in the curry industry - the BCA Curry Chef of the Year award for the South East.

The 12 winners of the coveted Chef of the Year category can now lay claim to being the best in their region after impressing judges during a heated cook-off last month. The Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) visited hundreds of curry houses and takeaways across the length and breadth of Britain in the hunt for the nation's top chefs and restaurants.

The 13th annual Curry Chef and Curry Restaurant of the Year Awards are the curry industry's premier awards, backed by restaurants and chefs themselves and considered the ‘Oscars' of the curry world.

The BCA, which represents more than 12,000 restaurants in the UK, whittled down a list of hundreds of contenders to just 27 chef finalists and 38 shortlisted curry houses. The finalists went head to head with one another at a cook-off event to produce a dish worthy of the judges' top marks and The Maharani came through with flying colours.

Congratulations to Shabul and Kabul (Chef) co-owners of the Maharani Restaurant pictured above.

A violent offender who dragged his ex-girlfriend into the street by her hair has been jailed.

Luke Chawla, aged 25 and of Murston Road in Sittingbourne, also punched his victim repeatedly after letting himself into her house in Iwade following the end of their relationship.

He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday (15th November). Chawla must also serve a further three years on licence under the terms of an extended sentence.

The court heard how on the morning of Saturday 18th November 2017 he attended his victim's address in order to collect some of his belongings. He returned in the evening and after initially being refused entry, he used a key that the woman did not realise he had to let himself in.

Chawla then ran upstairs and launched a vicious attack on the woman, punching her with both hands before dragging her down the stairs by her hair. He then dragged her into the street where members of the public intervened and ordered Chawla to leave the area.

He was arrested by a Kent Police officer the following day.

Investigating officer PC Nicholas Rivett-Carnac told SFM News: "The victim in this case suffered serious facial injuries and a bleed on the brain in what was a completely unprovoked attack. I am very pleased that she has since made a full recovery and is now moving on with her life. Tackling domestic violence is a priority for Kent Police and I hope the sentence imposed on Luke Chawla sends a strong message that such offenders will be put before the courts and imprisoned for their crimes. His victim displayed tremendous courage in reporting the offences committed against her, and her actions will have given great confidence to others who find themselves victims of domestic violence".

Witnesses are being sought after a family were robbed in Sittingbourne in what officers believe may have been a case of mistaken identity.

The couple and their baby are reported to have been targeted at around 8.30pm in Balas Drive on Wednesday (7th November) evening.

Three men are alleged to have followed the victims home from a shopping trip and when they arrived at their house and began unloading their vehicle three men are reported to have got out of a car and threatened them.

They demanded drugs and cash from the victims and started to search their car while the couple's young baby was still inside. No injuries were reported.

Having searched the car, the men then stole the victim's keys and a baby changing bag as well as the items the couple had just purchased from a department store which included an advent calendar with beauty products inside and a baby blanket.

One of the men is described as being of medium build, around 5ft 5ins tall, wearing a balaclava and a dark padded jacket. The second man is described as being around 6ft tall, well-built, wearing a balaclava and a dark hooded top with a black jacket with a white zip. The third man is described as aged in his 20's, 6ft tall, of slim build, with dark hair and appeared to be clean shaven. He was wearing a red hooded jacket.

They are believed to have travelled to and from the scene in a grey Toyota car.

Sergeant Marc Makin, from Kent Police's Criminal Investigation Department, told SFM News: "We are treating this as a case of mistaken identity as the offenders demanded drugs and cash from a young family who had just been on a shopping trip. While these incidents are rare they are still very frightening for those involved. I'd like to hear from anyone who has information or who thinks they saw the suspects prior to or after the incident. I'd also like to hear from any motorists who may have captured the suspect's vehicle on their dash cam."

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Kent Police Appeals Line for Swale on 01795 419 119 quoting 07-1614.

Alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Kent Police are appealing for information following a collision in Bobbing which left three people with serious injuries.

Officers were called to the scene, A249 northbound slip, at 11.50pm last night (Wednesday 24th October). The collision involved a white Volkswagen Caddy van and a black Audi A1 Sport, which had come to a stop.

A woman in hers 20's and a teenage girl, both from the Swale area, sustained head injuries and were both passengers in the Audi.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for further treatment and the girl was conveyed to a London Hospital. The driver of the Audi, a man in his 20's from Gillingham, also sustained chest injuries and was taken to a London hospital. At the time of the collision, he was standing beside the vehicle.

Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit would like to speak with anyone who has information, including dash cam footage, linked to the collision.

Anyone with any information can call Kent Police on 01622 798538 quoting reference: HW/DC/149/18.

Or alternatively they can email: sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.