Local News

A man who attempted to steal millions of pounds from a Swanley cash depot and computer chips from a consignment at Heathrow Airport has been jailed for a total of 11 years and three months.

38 years-old Karl Delaney, formerly of Sittingbourne, was part of a group of offenders who targeted the Loomis Cash Depot in Mark Way, Swanley, on Friday 23rd March 2012.

The gang used a stolen heavy-duty digger to break through the outside wall of the depot and gain access to the inside of the premises. Once the wall had been damaged the gang, who were armed with baseball bats and white sacks, climbed over the rubble only to realise they had knocked over the wrong wall. They then entered a nearby warehouse but found the building to also be empty and fled the scene with nothing. In August 2014 a 52 year-old man from Folkestone was sentenced in connection with the offence, and officers continued to hunt Delaney.

He was traced to Ireland and in early December 2015 and was extradited back to England from Ireland to face justice.

Delaney was also sentenced for his role in the theft of computer chips worth close to £2 million. The chips were part of a larger consignment that was being transported by lorry from Ireland to Holland, via the UK, in September 2012. Delaney, and a group of men that he was travelling with, travelled to Bedfont, close to Heathrow Airport and waited for several hours for the load to arrive before striking.

On Monday (7th December), having pleaded guilty, Delaney was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to a total of 11 years and three months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Rik Spicer, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, told SFM News: "Delaney took part in two offences; one was a high value theft and the other certainly had the potential. Delaney has evaded justice for almost three years but we are pleased to see him be returned to England and sentenced to a long time in prison for his part in the offences."

Do you have any Milton Regis ghost stories to share? Have you ever seen a ghost in the Milton Regis area?

The Friends Of Milton Regis Court Hall want to set up a register of ghost sightings and stories in and around the area and are looking for people to pop in to the Court hall this coming Saturday (5th December) for their Pre-Christmas Open Day.

If you can't get along they would still like to hear from you.

Please contact Paul on 01795 471876 or you can email him: paul@ptdavid.co.uk.

www.friendsofmiltonregiscourthall.co.uk

The family of an 18-year-old woman, who died after collapsing and falling onto the tracks at Sittingbourne railway station on Monday (2nd November) morning, have paid tribute to her.

Sophie Lintott, from Sittingbourne, sadly died of her injuries in hospital yesterday (Tuesday 3rd November) at Kings College Hospital in South East London.

In a statement issued earlier today, through the British Transport Police (BTP), Sophie's family said: "Sophie was a bubbly girl who loved life, family and all her friends from school, guiding, dance and work. She touched so many people's lives and will leave a lasting impression. Sophie loved flowers, but had expressed a wish for any tributes to be made as donations to either Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance or Crohn's & Colitis UK."

Girlguiding Sittingbourne Division told SFM News that it was "incredibly sad to have so suddenly lost a much loved member. We would like to express our sincere condolences to Sophie's family at this difficult time. Sophie was a caring, fun loving, confident, energetic young lady who touched the lives of many, she will be greatly missed."

A spokesperson for Southeastern Railways told SFM News: "Our thoughts are very much with Sophie's family and friends following this tragic incident. We are assisting the British Transport Police with their investigation."

Trains were stopped after the incident, shortly after 8.00am on Monday morning, whilst emergency services were called.

Southeastern services into Victoria and St Pancras from Sittingbourne station were hit by major delays during this morning's rush hour, after an incident at the station just after 8.00am.

It is believed that a teenage girl fell from Platform 2 at the station in front of horrified commuters. One person tweeted: "Very very sad what's happened at Sittingbourne train station my other half saw it happen right in front of her now she's in shock." Stephen Meadows on Twitter also added: "Thoughts are with the girl who fell on the lines today at sittingbourne station & her family @Se_Railway staff were fantastic #Sittingbourne."

In a Statement British Transport Police, who are leading the investigation, told SFM News: ""Our officers were called to Sittingbourne rail station [earlier], to reports of a person on the tracks. Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from Kent Police and paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance service. A woman was taken to hospital. Officers are now looking to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident."

Services are now running to and from the station with long delays, especially to coastbourne services - for the latest please follow our Twitter feed on the Main Page or @SFMRadio on Twitter.