Local News

A drug addict who stole a purse from a disabled woman under the guise of helping her has been jailed for 21 months.

Matthew Beaney, of no fixed address, was imprisoned by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday (11th June). The 29 year old had pleaded guilty to one count of theft.

The victim, a 50 year old Sittingbourne woman, was in Boots in High Street, Sittingbourne, on 6 November last year to collect a prescription. After taking the medication in store, she became violently unwell and vomited on the floor. Members of staff hurried to assist the woman, as well as Beaney, who was also in the shop.

However, while pretending to be concerned, Beaney was also seen creeping towards the counter where she had left her purse and placing it inside a folding magazine. He then left the shop and only then did the victim notice the purse - which contained bank cards, cash and family photographs - had disappeared.

Beaney was identified by local officers and arrested on 18th December. In interview, he denied the offence and suggested that he picked up the wallet by accident. He was charged with theft the following day. 

He was also charged with one count of burglary dwelling in connection with a break-in Chalkwell Road, Sittingbourne on 10th December. The victim in this case, a 50 year old man, had left the address in at 10.45am and returned almost 12 hours later to find his flat screen television and Blu-Ray player had been stolen. A few days later, a friend of his told him Beaney had sold him the items for £50.

Investigating officer, DC Richard Allingham of Kent Police, told SFM News: "Beaney was so desperate for heroin that he took advantage of a poorly woman when she was at her most vulnerable. He saw an opportunity and took it straightaway, even pretending to comfort her so he could get close enough to steal her wallet. It was a disgusting act of self-service that he later pretended to know nothing about, even suggesting he had picked up the purse accidentally. However, the evidence against him was overwhelming. A month later, he broke into the second victim's house and stole his possessions to sell them on for the same reason - to get money to buy drugs. Unfortunately drugs play a part in many crimes, which is why Kent Police works to combat demand and supply throughout the county. Beaney's conviction should send a warning to all those who believe they are above the law in Kent."

Kent Police local Swale Detectives are investigating a serious assault by a group of men in Sheerness at the weekend, which has left the victim with a fractured jaw.

Kent Police officers were called shortly before 3.30am on Saturday morning (31st May) to a report of an assault near the clock tower in Sheerness High Street. A couple - a 21-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man from the town - had been on a night out. As they attempted to walk home, they were approached by a group of about 10 people near the clock tower and the man was reportedly assaulted. He suffered suspected multiples fractures of the jaw and is being treated for his injuries at a hospital in West Sussex.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Beverley Morrison of Kent Police, told SFM News: "This was a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a man by a group of people that has left the victim with serious injuries and he remains in hospital getting treatment for those. I am appealing for anyone who might have witnessed the assault or who might have seen a group of people walking together in the High Street area between 3am and 3.45am on Saturday 31 May, to come forward and help us with our enquiries."

Anyone with any information is asked to call DS Morrison on 01634 792588, quoting reference XY/19053/14, or alternatively they can contact Kent Crimestoppers free (from any landline) and anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A man has admitted murdering his former boss in a tackle shop near Sittingbourne.

54-year-old Simon Olsen, of no fixed abode, shot dead fisheries owner Steven Langley, 57, inside his own shop in Tonge on Friday 29th November 2013. He pleaded guilty to one charge of murder at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (25th April).

The Court heard that at 2.45pm on Friday the 29 November 2013, Olsen walked into the Fishery Shop where Mr Langley was working and shot him once in the upper abdomen with a double-barrelled shotgun. He had visited the shop several times early that afternoon looking for Mr Langley. When questioned by other staff, Olsen said he wanted Mr Langley's permission to shoot a duck. Another member of staff and some customers had noticed him walking around with the shotgun before he entered the shop for the final time.

The employee and the customers were in the car park when they heard a shot fired. Olsen came walking out of the shop and fired another shot up into the air before walking off. The employee went back into the shop to find Mr Langley had been shot in the chest and called 999. However, the father of two was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kent Police officers found Olsen in possession of the gun and inside his property was a bag he had packed in preparation to go to prison. He was arrested on suspicion of murder. They later charged him with murder in the early hours of 30th November 2013.

Olsen will be sentenced on Monday 12th May at Maidstone Crown Court.

By Derek Barclay

A bumper Bank Holiday crowd welcomed Speedway racing back for its second season to Central Park on Bank Holiday Monday (21st April) afternoon, as the Kent CTA Fire Kings plundered their first piece of silverware of the campaign claiming the Easter Trophy in a competitive clash with a spirited King's Lynn Young Stars' side down from Norfolk.

That the homesters were not going to get everything their way under sunny Swale skies was highlighted in the very first race as new Kent skipper Simon Lambert's bike shuddered to a halt on lap two courtesy of a faulty carburettor, meaning the Kings' number one was unable to assist fellow newcomer Luke Chessell's attempts to hold off the ultra-experienced pairing for the visitors of guest Ben Wilson and Darren Mallett serving up a maximum start for the Norfolk side.

The Kings though were imperious in the immediacy of their comeback, reeling off three 5-1s of their own in heats two through to four to establish an ultimately decisive lead. Young Londoner, Luke Harris racing at Central Park for the first time, was delighted to match the distinction achieved on the road last month when he won his first-ever competitive race by doing likewise on his first home trip out - the lively reserve pairing of the Northolt-based teenager Harris and a fourth King's debutant Brandon Freemantle setting the Kent side well on the way in heat 2. Ultimately six out of the seven CTA Fire Kings' riders were to record individual heat wins: the Eastbourne-based Freemantle celebrating his home debut with a decisive win over the rider he's replaced in the Kent line-up this term, Adam Kirby after the unlucky Chessell fell awkwardly in a rerun heat 8.

By that mid-way point the returning favourite son of the Central Park faithful, Ben Morley had underlined his hugely confident start to the season by reeling off two wins from his opening pair of rides and the only surprise was the Southend speedster had reluctantly to settle for two second places behind the visitors' top man Wilson, before partnering his captain Lambert to an impressive maximum in heat 15. The Easter Trophy was firmly in the Kings' possession way before that final ride though with Benji Compton and Lambert recording a pair of heat wins, as a winning nine points margin was established by the completion of heat 13. A local favourite in opposition colours made his mark (literally in his case) in the penultimate race, as former Iwade graduate Marc Owen recovered from a shaky start to the meeting by surprisingly out-gating the Kings' Compton.

There was certainly enough egg-citement on show to send the holiday crowd away happy. Next up for the Kent team are back to back away matches the weekend after next, visiting the Coventry Storm in a league encounter on Friday May 2nd before heading further north into the Potteries to do battle with Stoke on May 3rd. Next up at Central Park is another Bank Holiday afternoon meeting: with the always good value Mildenhall Fen Tigers from Suffolk visiting in a National Trophy match on the May Day holiday on the 5th. of next month.

Result and scorers:
Kent 52 (Ben Morley 12+1; Simon Lambert 10+1; David Mason 8+2; Benji Compton 8; Brandon Freemantle 7+2; Luke Harris 5+1; Luke Chessell 2)
King's Lynn 39 (Wilson 10+2; Cockle 9; Mallett 8; Owen 4+1; Hughes 4; Bailey 2+1; Kirkby 2) [Easter Trophy].