Local News

Police Appeal Following "Road Rage" Assault

Police Appeal Following "Road Rage" Assault

Kent Police are appealing for information following an assault on Friday (27th December) in Sittingbourne.

The incident occurred on Mill Way, between 7.40pm and 7.45pm, when a 27-year-old woman and a 26-year old man (both from the Sheerness area) were at the traffic lights outside the Morrisons supermarket andovertoo k a black Range Rover. It is believed that the driver of the Range Rover flashed their lights and used the horn. As a result of this the 26-year-old man decided to pull his Audi over to the side of the road and stop.

It is then reported that the Range Rover hit the back of the Audi and a group of women got out and started to punch the Sheerness couple. A large white vehicle, possibly a Toyota, pulled up in front of the Audi, stopping it from getting away. Two men then got out of this vehicle and reportedly smashed the windscreen of the Audi. The 26-year-old man was then punched in the face repeatedly.

Three women have been arrested in connection with this assault ( a 17 and 18 year-old from Queenborough) and a 17 year-old from Sittingbourne. Their vehicle was seized and examined for forensic evidence. They have been bailed pending further enquiries.

The man and woman received facial injuries in the incident and around £200 worth of damage was caused to their car.

The assault is being investigated by Sergeant Jason Hedges, from Sittingbourne Police Station, who told SFM News that the "assault left the victims terrified. In her statement the female victim said she thought she was going to die. We do know there were a number of motorists who may have witnessed the attack and we would like to hear from them so we can move the investigation forward. If you can help, please contact Kent Police on 101 or alternatively you can contact Kent CrimeStoppers free (from any landline) and anonimously  on 0800 555 111".

Flood Alert In Place For Isle Of Sheppey

Flood Alert In Place For Isle Of Sheppey

The Environment Agency have issued an Amber Alert for flooding in some parts of the Isle Of Sheppey.

Rail services to the island are currently suspended with a rail replacement bus service in operation.

The main A249 Sheppey Crossing also remains closed until further notice, with all traffic having to use the old Kingsferry Bridge.

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for further updates or follow our Twitter Feed on the main page or via @SFMRadio.

Train Services Suspended After Incident At Bobbing

Train Services Suspended After Incident At Bobbing

A person has been fatally hit by a train near Bobbing, just outside Sittingbourne, earlier this afternoon.

The incident is currently causing delays of up to 60 minutes and the following changes to services have been made by South Eastern Trains:

  • Trains are suspended between Rainham and Teynham
  • Buses are running between Gillingham and Faversham
  • Buses are replacing trains between Sheerness-on-Sea and Sittingbourne

Stayed tuned to 106.9 SFM for updates or follow us on Twitter @SFMRadio.

Cars Damaged In Partial Building Collapse

Cars Damaged In Partial Building Collapse

The bottom half of Sittingbourne High Street (from Central Avenue downwards) remains closed following the partial collapse of the Bell Shopping Centre in high winds.

A number of vehicles have been damaged in the car parking area to the rear of the centre and behind The Sumnor and the Sports Bar (part of the Snooker Club).

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for further updates.

Bars Evacuated After Partial Building Collapse

Part of Sittingbourne High Street has had to be evacuated after a partial building collapse.

Revellers in The Sumnor Weatherspoons Pub and The Snooker Sports Bar were evacuated shortly after 6.00pm this evening, following a partial collapse at the rear of their premises that formed part of the old Bell Shopping Centre.

It is understood that there were no injuries involved but that a number of vehicles have been damaged.

Updates to follow >>>>>

Wife Pays Tribute To Man Killed In Shooting

Wife Pays Tribute To Man Killed In Shooting

A man killed following a shooting near Sittingbourne has been named as 56 year-old Steven Langley, a former Kent Firefighter.

Mr Langley died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen in Tonge on Friday afternoon (29th November), during an incident which Kent Police officers are now treating as a murder investigation.

Kent Police had initially been called at 2.45pm to reports that a man had been wounded in Lower Road. Mr Langley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Simon Olsen, aged 54 and of no fixed abode, was charged with Mr Langley's murder over the weekend and remains in police custody.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Detective Inspector Gavin Moss, of the Serious Crime Directorate told SFM News: "We are continuing to investigate the circumstances that have led to this tragic death. Mr Langley was a much loved father and husband and was also a well known member of his local community".

The victim's wife, Lucia Langley, paid tribute to her husband, who ran the Bax Farm Fisheries in Tonge and told SFM News "He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold. He loved his family, who always came first, and he would do anything for anybody."

A249 Stockbury Collision Witness Appeal

A249 Stockbury Collision Witness Appeal

Collision investigators, from Kent Police, are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic incident on the A249 near Stockbury on Friday 22nd November) that left a motorcyclist with serious injuries.

The accident happened at about 5.30pm when a green Kawasaki motorcycle was in collision with a bronze-coloured Ford Fiesta on the Maidstone bound carriageway of the A249. The motorbike had been travelling coastbound but completed a U-turn at the Hucking turn-off. It then accelerated on the A249 heading in the direction of Maidstone when it's believed it collided with the rear of the car.

The motorcyclist, a 43 year old man, suffered a serious head and back injury and was taken to a hospital in London, where his condition remains serious. The driver of the car, a woman, was uninjured.

The road was closed for about five hours to allow collision investigators to conduct an examination of the scene and recover the vehicle involved.

If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, at Police Headquarters in Maidstone, on 01622 798538 quoting CAD 22-1186.

Free Anti-Burglary Packs On Offer Locally

Free Anti-Burglary Packs On Offer Locally

Kent Police are urging residents throughout Swale to safeguard their homes and their belongings with the help of free anti-burglary packs.

Officers will be in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey for the remainder of this month, handing out infra-red battery operated alarms, UV pens to mark property, timer switches to help make empty homes appear occupied and personal attack alarms. The packs are free as part of Kent Police's Stay Safe this Autumn campaign.

Police Community Support Officers will be handing them out, offering crime prevention advice and listening to residents' concerns at a number of Police Contact Points across Swale. In addition to being able to contact Kent Police via phone, email, social media and traditional police stations, members of the public can also engage with officers at Police Contact Points. They are held each day from Wednesday through to Sunday when police vans will stop at a prominent location for an hour and mainly visit rural locations.

District Commander for Swale, Chief Inspector Tony Henley of Kent Police,told SFM News: "My officers will be out and about across the three towns and rural areas, offering crime prevention advice and listening to any concerns you may have. While we do all we can to arrest and put before the courts those that commit burglary in our communities, why not take some simple steps yourself to ensure you are not a victim of crime. By visiting one of our Police Contact Points, you can get a free anti-burglary pack and pick up some valuable tips to keep yourself and your property safe.
‘Police Contact Points are just another way in which you can contact your local officer, you can also get in contact with your neighbourhood policing by calling 101, through Twitter, online beat meetings, town surgeries and of course by visiting your local station."

Officers will be at the following locations this month:

Wednesday 13th November
- 12pm-1pm at Selling Railway Station, Selling Road in Selling.
- 2pm-3pm at Boughton Village Hall, Bull Lane in Boughton-under-Blean.
- 5pm-6pm at Northdown, off The Street in Doddington.

Thursday 14th November
- 12pm-1pm at St John the Baptist Church, Tunstall Road in Tunstall.
- 2pm-3pm at Mountview in Borden.
- 5pm-6pm at Bredgar Village Hall, Bexon Lane in Sittingbourne.

Friday 15th November
- 12pm - 1pm Newington Village Hall, High Street, Sittingbourne ME9 7JJ
- 2pm - 3pm Upchurch Village Hall, The Street, Sittingbourne ME9 7EU
- 5pm - 6pm Lower Halstow Village Hall, School Lane, Lower Halstow ME9 7ET

Saturday 16th November
- 12pm-1pm at Sheerstone in Iwade.
- 2pm-3pm at Eastchurch Village Hall, Warden Road in Eastchurch.
- 5pm-6pm at Swale Council car park, Imperial Drive in Warden.

Sunday 17th November
- 12pm-1pm outside Teynham Village Hall, Belle Friday Close in Teynham.
- 2pm-3pm at St Laurence Church, The Street in Bapchild.
- 5pm-6pm at Bobbing Village Hall, Sheppey Way in Bobbing.

Wednesday 27th November
- 12pm-1pm at Selling Railway Station, Selling Road in Selling.
- 2pm-3pm at Boughton Village Hall, Bull Lane in Boughton-under-Blean.
- 5pm-6pm at Northdown, off The Street in Doddington.

Thursday 28th November
- 12pm-1pm at St John the Baptist Church, Tunstall Road in Tunstall.
- 2pm-3pm at Mountview, Borden.
- 5pm-6pm at Bredgar Village Hall, Bexon Lane in Sittingbourne.

Friday 29th November
- 12pm-1pm at Newington Village Hall, High Street in Sittingbourne.
- 2pm-3pm at Upchurch Village Hall, The Street in Sittingbourne.
- 5pm-6pm at Lower Halstow Village Hall, School Lane in Lower Halstow.

Saturday 30th November
- 12pm-1pm at Sheerstone in Iwade.
- 2pm-3pm at Eastchurch Village Hall, Warden Road in Eastchurch.
- 5pm-6pm at Swale Council car park, Imperial Drive in Warden.

 

Appeal After "Nasty Attack" In Lower Halstow

Appeal After "Nasty Attack" In Lower Halstow

Officers from Kent Police are investigating a reported robbery during which a woman was sprayed with a noxious substance are appealing for help from the public.

Between 11.45am and midday on Sunday (3rd November), a man is alleged to have assaulted a female cashier in the BestOne store on Burntwick Drive in Lower Halstow, before fleeing the shop.

The offender, described as a white man aged between 18 and 20 and around 5ft 6ins tall, had entered the shop and taken a can of energy drink to the counter. When the victim, a woman in her 50s, was ringing up the purchase, he put his hand in the open till and, at the same time, sprayed her shoulder and the left side of her face with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray. He pushed the woman backwards into a display of alcohol before running out of the shop. The victim managed to call police and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Detectives are now asking anybody who recognises the description of the offender - who was clean-shaven and wearing paint-stained jogging bottoms and a dark-coloured hooded top with the hood up - to get in touch.

Investigating officer, DC Stewart Catt of Kent Police, told SFM News that "this was a nasty attack on a defenceless woman in her place of work. Although she was not seriously injured, she has been left traumatised and fearful to return to the shop. I am asking anybody who has any information whatsoever about this incident to call me on 01634 792418, quoting crime reference XY/035427/13.
Or if you'd prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Kent Crimestoppers free (from any landline) and anonimously on 0800 555111. Any piece of information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can be a vital clue for our investigators, so please don't hesitate to come forward."

Police Appeal After Mobile Phone Robbery

Police Appeal After Mobile Phone Robbery

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was reportedly robbed of his mobile phone in Sittingbourne.

Officers are investigating the circumstances around the incident, which is alleged to have taken place between 8.50pm and 9.15pm on Saturday (2nd November) evening.

The victim, a local man in his 30s, was walking along Mill Way, near the junction with Tribune Drive, wearing earphones when he was approached by two men.

One of his assailants hit him in the face and demanded his Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. The victim handed it over and the offenders made off.

Both offenders are described as white men aged approximated 28 to 30. The first is described as being of fat build, wearing a white jacket. He was around 5ft 8ins tall, with cropped hair and stubble. The second man was around 6ft tall, with cropped hair and a slim build. He was believed to be wearing a blue jacket, a sports jacket, white shoes and jeans.

Investigating officer, DC Stewart Catt of Kent Police, told SFM News that "the victim was left shaken by this assault, when violence was used to steal a valuable piece of his property. We take all such incidents very seriously and I would welcome anybody who witnessed the robbery, or who may have information regarding it, getting in touch."

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to call DC Catt directly on 01634 792418, quoting crime reference XY/35383/13 or, alternatively, they can contact Kent Crimestoppers free (from any landline) and anonimously on 0800 555111.

 

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