Three years’ jail for £500,000 frauds


A MEREWORTH man has been given a three-year prison sentence and a woman has received a suspended sentence for their part in fraud offences to- talling nearly half a million pounds. Colin Lewington, 43, of Butchers


Lane, and Claire Smith, 34, of Lud- desdown, near Cobham, were sen- tenced at Maidstone Crown Court after admitting charges of conspir- acy to defraud at a previous hear- ing.


The pair were arrested in October


2008 as they attempted to sign a fraudulent finance agreement, claiming it was to buy mechanical plant.


New fire chief opts


for cut in salary KENT Fire and Rescue Service has re- structured its senior management team in a move which will save £300,000. Headed by new chief executive Ann


Millington, who has chosen to take a salary cut, the top tier includes direc- tor of operations Steve Demetriou and director of community safety Steve Griffiths. The posts of deputy chief executive


and director of human resources, which she previously held, are being abolished and, with other restructur- ing of the management team, means a reduction in costs of £297,000 a year. The changes were prompted by the retirement of the previous chief exec- utive Charlie Hendry.


Lewington (pictured) was charged with 15


offences of conspiracy to defraud between January and October 2008. Smith faced seven similar offences. Investigating officer Martin Brad-


beer, of Kent and Essex Police's Se- rious Crime Directorate, said: "This case centred on Lewington and Smith setting up various compa- nies to provide false information in order to gain financially through loans.


"They set up bank accounts, false identities and forged company ac-


counts in order to apply for loans to buy machinery or mechanical plant such as fork lift trucks and diggers.”


THE HEART of Kent Hospice at Aylesford is looking for en- thusiastic people to support it by donating the gift of time at one of its charity shops. Branches are located across


the area. The hospice is always looking for willing volunteers but is in desperate need of helpers at Parkwood and its new superstore in Hall Road, Aylesford. Karen Dockwray, volunteer services development officer, said: “Volunteering is a two- way partnership – volunteers are the backbone of the charity and enable us to provide this vital service. But at the same time volun-


Lewington had completed finance agree-


ments and set up “virtual” addresses from where he could collect post for the the com- panies he had set up. Smith had known Lewington for a year at


the time of her arrest because she worked at his wife's stables in Meopham. It was dur- ing this time that Lewington is said to have encouraged Smith to establish her own gar- dening business. He helped Smith set up a bank account


for CS Landscape and Design, but the busi- ness never traded. Smith said she was the only signatory on


Can you give time for charity?


teers can take many rewards away from the experience whether it is new skills, a sense of achievement, an en- hanced CV or some new friends. “We would love to hear from


people who can donate just a few hours of their time to the hospice.” For further details, visit any


hospice shop, phone 01622 792200 or email karen.dock- wray@hokh.co.uk.


£600 compensation ANTHONY White (43) of Heg- garty Court, Snodland, was or- dered to pay £600 com- pensation for damaging an Audi A6 car.


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the CS Landscape and Design account but all the cheque books and cards were given to Lewington. He subsequently used the ac- counts to pay in thousands of pounds worth of loans. Lewington set up a num-


ber of companies to commit the offences, using fake pass- ports, birth certificates, bank accounts and 'virtual' offices to pick up post. The total money obtained through the 15 frauds was £337,214. A further £162,100 was at-


tempted, giving a total figure of £499,314. A 35-year-old man from


East Malling was also ar- rested on suspicion of con- spiracy to defraud with 15 offences committed between January and October 2008, but died while on bail and a subsequent inquest verdict of suicide was recorded.


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