Manslaughter

A violent offender who chased a man into traffic with a machete has been jailed for 16 years.

Chris Maclean, 43, admitted to the manslaughter of Jay Gerrett, who died after being hit by a car on St Michael’s Road, Sittingbourne.

At around 9.10pm on Saturday 2nd August 2025, another man, Jack Hunt, led Mr Gerrett to Pembury Street to sell him drugs. A conversation occurred between the two in the road, which quickly soured and escalated into shouting.

A man has been detained in hospital indefinitely after admitting the manslaughter of his own grandmother while visiting her in Sittingbourne.

Stuart Lay, aged 44, of Homewood Avenue, had been charged with the murder of 85-year-old Jean Robertson, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (Monday 25th April). His plea was accepted and he was sentenced the same day. He has been detained indefinitely under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act. This means he will now be kept in a secure hospital.