Sittingbourne

Report by Mike Green

Sittingbourne’s ten men earned a point at Lancing, on the coldest afternoon of the season on Saturday (25th November), as they extended their unbeaten run to eleven games.

A house in Newington has been subject to a partial closure order after it was linked to a disturbance.

The 28-day order was granted at Medway Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (8th November) after Kent Police applied to the court for the partial closure of the house in Church Lane.

Under Section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the order prevents anyone from visiting or being inside the property, other than the landlord or the tenant, during that period, or else risk a custodial sentence or an unlimited fine.

Tree Sentinels lined The Avenue Of Remembrance for Remembrance Sunday yesterday (Sunday 12th November) to mark it's 100 years at the heart of Sittingbourne.

This year's Service Of Remembrance was organised through the Sittingbourne Remembrance Sunday Event Organising Group made up of local individuals, groups and businesses and co-ordinated by Richard and Theresa Emmett of The Historical Research Group Of Sittingbourne (HRGS).

A Swale burglar has received swift justice and is starting a prison sentence just two days after his arrest.

Last Tuesday (7th November), Kent Police received a report that a van had been stolen from a garage belonging to a business in Sittingbourne High Street. One of the company’s employees checked an onboard tracker and was able to alert officers to its location.

An ongoing Kent Police campaign, to protect businesses in Swale from crime, has continued with multiple charges for a suspected shoplifter.

Kent Police was notified that on Monday 21st August 2023, a man had attempted to steal Lego worth almost £280 from B&M in Neats Court Retail Park, Queenborough.

Between Thursday 19th October and Sunday 29th October, staff at Sainsbury’s in Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne reported five separate thefts. Bottles of spirits valued at around £1,000 were allegedly taken by a man who left the store without paying.

Members of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative Association have voted, by secret ballot, and have selected Aisha Cuthbert as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey at the next General Election.

Local Police officers, investigating allegations of dangerous driving, are appealing for witnesses.

Kent Police were called at 8.45pm last night (Friday 6th October) to a report of a van driving dangerously in St Michael’s Road, Sittingbourne.

Officers attended the scene alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, where a local man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

The owner of two unaccompanied dogs found wandering on their leads is being sought by Kent Police officers.

The male and female dogs were found at around 10pm on Monday (2nd October) evening in Parsonage Lane, Bobbing.

Typically, unaccompanied dogs considered lost or abandoned are handed over to the local dog warden when their owners cannot be located. However, the circumstances in which the animals were found on Monday suggest their owner may be unaccounted for and officers are keen find them to ensure they are safe, as well as reunite them with their pets.

A man from Sittingbourne, who stalked a woman and threatened to throw acid in her face, has been jailed.

Duncan Friend harassed and intimidated his victim over several weeks and also made threats with a knife, to people she knew.

Friend became known to the woman in December 2022 and in the weeks that followed bought her gifts including a bag, shoes, and scarf. By the end of January 2023, the victim became concerned by constant messages she was receiving on her phone from Friend, which included demands she needed to return the gifts to him.

Electric vehicle drivers will now be able to get a more reliable charge when visiting Sittingbourne, with Swale Borough Council (SBC) upgrading the EV charging points in the Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park. 

The previous chargers on the ground floor of the car park were unreliable and have now been replaced with two brand new Pod Point chargers.  

These offer a total of four charging outlets for electric vehicles to use, two 22KW fast chargers and two 7KW chargers.