Kent Police

A compulsive gambler, who swindled clients out of more than £750,000 by offering incredible deals on high profile sporting events, has been jailed for three years and four months.

James Edward Maxwell, who ran three Sittingbourne-based sports memorabilia and hospitality companies, "spun a staggering web of lies in order to persuade wealthy clients and charities to hand over cash, including claims that his young son had been diagnosed with cancer" according to Kent Police.

Three men have been arrested after Kent Police officers uncovered evidence of animal cruelty and cock-fighting during a raid at a farm in Iwade.

Officers executed a warrant under the Misuse of Drug Act yesterday (Monday 12th January) morning where up to 170 birds were found in a converted barn in Raspberry Hill Lane. A number of dead cockerels, which were found to have had their combs removed, were also found at the farm. Removing the comb is believed to be common practice in breeding birds for fighting.

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.

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.

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.

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate have arrested and charged a number of people from across the county following a long-term operation to disrupt the supply of class A and class B drugs locally.

A total of 14 people were arrested in the early hours of Monday (14th October) and yesterday (Tuesday 15th October) following a series of co-ordinated warrants executed at addresses in Maidstone, Rainham, Gillingham, Chatham, Sheerness and West Malling.

Kent Police are still appealing for witnesses to a serious collision in Sittingbourne on the evening of Monday 7th October.

Collision investigators attended the A2 London Road at 7.05pm, after it was reported that a man jogging outside the Coniston Hotel, who had crossed the road had been involved in a collision with a silver Mercedes CLK 320.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, suffered serious head and leg injuries and was taken by road ambulance to a London hospital.

The driver of the car was not injured.

Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit have released an image of a car they would like to trace following a fatal road traffic collision in Teynham.

Collision investigators are keen to speak to the driver of a dark coloured hatchback that is seen to stop momentarily at the scene before driving on.

Officers were called to the A2 London Road at 5.40am on Sunday 8th September after reports a red Honda motorcycle had been in collision with a white Scania articulated HGV.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of Gary Pocock on the Isle of Sheppey.

It takes the number of arrests to five after four people were arrested yesterday (Tuesday 20th August) morning by officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Three men and a teenage boy have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of Gary Pocock on the Isle of Sheppey.

Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate made a series of arrests earlier today (Tuesday 20th August) in connection with the murder investigation.

A 44-year-old man and a 20-year-old man, both from Manor Park in East London, together with a 20-year-old man from Benfleet in Essex and a 15-year-old boy from the Warden area of Sheppey, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. All four still remain in police custody.