Local News

Swale Detectives have charged two men in connection with alleged distraction burglaries in the local area.

Police made two separate arrests after receiving reports that people had tricked their way into homes to steal items. The first arrest was made after officers responded to an incident in Foxley Road, Sittingbourne at around 2.35pm, on Friday 23rd October. Joseph Smith, aged 34, of Lucks Lane, Chart Sutton, was charged with two counts of burglary and an attempted burglary with intent to steal.

The charges are in connection with the following reported incidents:

- Attempted burglary in Stanhope Avenue, Sittingbourne, on Wednesday 21st October
- Burglary in Stanhope Avenue, Sittingbourne, on Wednesday 21st October
- Burglary in Foxley Road, Queenborough, Friday 23rd October (as mentioned above)

He appeared via virtual court on Monday 26th October where he was remanded in custody until he is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court next Friday (13th November).

The second arrest, which is unrelated to the arrest on the 23rd October, was made after police received a report of a burglary in Alma Road, Sheerness, on Sunday 25th October. Officers carried out enquiries and arrested a suspect on the same day. Nicholas Peter Michael Mitchell, aged 36, of Marine Parade in Sheerness, was charged with burglary. He has been bailed to appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Monday 16th November.

To find out more information on distraction burglary and what you can do to avoid becoming a victim, please visit the advice pages on the Kent Police website: http://www.kent.police.uk/advice/home/bogus_callers_rogue_traders.html

A member of the 2nd Sittingbourne Guides is celebrating after receiving the highest accolade for Guides - the Baden-Powell Challenge Award.

Jade Dowsett, from Sittingbourne, chose to complete a range of exciting activities to achieve the award, including playing life-size Monopoly around Canterbury while away on her adventure weekend and Co-ordinating and presenting a fashion show with her fellow Guides.

Jade told the SFM News Team: "I'm really proud to have completed my Baden-Powell Challenge Award because it has taken more than a 18 months of hard work to get it. As part of the award, I had to work with lots of new Guides which I found very daunting. Our unit was very small but has grown dramatically over the time it has taken me to complete the award. I was pretty nervous, but I took time to get to know each of the younger Guides and gain their respect, this has given me so much confidence and lots of new friends!"

The group's Leader, Lesley Taylor told the SFM News Team: "I'm very proud of Jade for completing her Baden-Powell Award. I was overwhelm with pride as I have never had the honour of presenting a BP award before. She has been truly dedicated to achieving this award, and I'm sure this is something she will look back on with pride for years to come."

Jade, aged 16, received the award during a special presentation event on Friday (23rd October) at Kemsley Community Centre. The Baden-Powell Challenge is the highest award available to Guides - Girlguiding's section for girls aged between 10 and 16. The challenge is divided into five sections, including healthy lifestyles and global awareness. Girls can choose which activities they want to do within each section, from researching the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to giving a presentation on a world issue of their choice. To complete the award, Guides take part in an adventure weekend, during which they face various set challenges, trying new things and pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.

Girlguiding opens up a world of opportunities to girls and young women aged five to 25, offering a hugely varied programme incorporating everything from world issues and science to social action, adventure sports and international travel. The charity builds girls' confidence and raises their aspirations, giving them their own space to have fun and build friendships. For further information about Girlguiding and how to get involved call 0800 169 5901 or visit www.girlguiding.org.uk.

Kent Police are appealing for information to locate a man who went missing from Maidstone Magistrates Court earlier today (Tuesday, 22nd September).

42-year-old Daniel Paul Murray, who has connections to Swale, Ashford and Dartford, absconded from Maidstone Magistrates Court.

Police were contacted at 11.50am after security guards based at the court were unable to locate him.

Officers are continuing their searching for Murray, who also uses the name Daniel McAvoy, and enquiries are on-going. He appeared in connection with a domestic abuse incident and is not believed to pose a risk to the public. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts please call 999 or you can call Crimestoppers, free (from any landline) and anonimously on 0800 555 111.

Plans for the £46m regeneration of Sittingbourne have taken a step forward today with the announcement that building work on the new seven screen cinema should begin in the spring of 2016.

It is hoped that the first films will be screened in the summer of 2017, which would also includes the completion of a 308 space multi-storey car park and new traffic management flows - generating more than 700 jobs in the Sittingbourne area.

Cllr Andrew Bowles, the Leader of Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: "This is an important step in delivering the regeneration of the town centre that we have all been waiting for. The cinema underpins the whole development, so having this agreement is great news and we look forward to announcing the operator and the associated retail and restaurants that will be opening in the town, when the final terms are agreed."