Justice for Dawn as killer gets life


THE family of a Maidstone woman murdered by her York- shire lover has spoken out after the killer was jailed for life. MarkHatter (45), from Hillsbor-


ough, Sheffield, was sentenced to aminimum of 25 years injail after a jury at Sheffield Crown Court heard howhe climbed in through a first-floor window of his girl- friend’s house and fatally stabbed her, before turn- ing the knife on himself. Dawn Backhouse (pic- tured), formerly Dawn Taylor, was well-liked in her native Vinters Park andWateringbury, where she worked as a post- woman. Despite moving to Sheffield in 2008, she regularly popped back


Bid to protect the


Greensand Ridge A REQUEST to provide better planning protection for the Greensand Ridge has been re- ferred to Maidstone Council’s ruling cabinet. A 1,200-name petition calls


for the open countryside around Wierton Place, in Boughton Monchelsea, cur- rently subject to a planning ap- plication to replace a nightclub and apartments with a total of 24 homes, to be protected. The Greensand Ridge - a strip


of land south of Maidstone that extends across Boughton Mal- herbe, Ulcombe, Sutton Va- lence, Linton and Yalding - is under pressure from developers because, unlike the Kent Downs, it is not categorised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). GainingAONB status is an as- piration for Cllr TonyHarwood, who called for the petition to be discussed by cabinet. He said: “I am particularly concerned that the new national govern- ment framework proposes the end of countryside protection outside National Parks, AONBs andMetropolitan Green Belt. “In many ways, the Green-


sand Ridge is far less spoilt than the Kent Downs AONB, which has been very industri- ally farmed. Because of the paucity of its soils, the Green- sand Ridge is unspoilt and some of the views, which go down as far as Romney Marsh, are superb.”


to visit friends and family in the town and around the places she worked. After splitting with her hus-


band Andrew in 2009, Dawn (31) became friendly with Hatter, through a local dog-walking group.


However, Hatter had a long- standing partner and Dawn was duetomovebacktoMaid- stone on July 4, where she had formed a relationship with David Brunger. Det Insp Phil Etheridge,


senior investigating officer on the case, said: “Hatter was having great difficul- ties dealing with the fact that Dawn was ending


their relationship and returning, with her children, to her native


Kent.” Dawn’s sister Carol, who still


lives in Maidstone, sat through the two-and-a-half week trial, along with her parents Barry and Linda. She said: “We were devastated


to learn of Dawn’s death and the events of the past few months have certainly taken their toll, particularly on my mum. “We were all looking forward to


Dawn coming back so this was a doubly devastating blow. It has torn our family apart.” Two of Dawn’s three children, Stephanie (10) and Hannah (3) were in the house when the as- sault tookplace. Her son Reece (7) was with his father in Kent. Carol said: “I only met Hatter once and can’t say I particularly


Aladdin fizzes with fun at the Hazlitt


I AMsure that Jeremy Edwards is well known on the small screens of the majority of the Hazlitt’s audiences, but not to me. Whatever happened to the principal boy in pantos? No, it is not just the legs; princi- pal boys are part of the tradi- tion. Jeremy did not really fill the part of Aladdin. Saphire Elia, on the other


JOHN


MUNSON SHOW TIME


hand, was delightful as the princess. She could dance, sing and act. She had charisma. Another charismatic performer was Gary Damer asWisheeWashee. He romped through all his gags and the whole show was all the richer. AsWidow Twankey, Andy Couchman was enjoyably but tra- ditionally outrageous. His outfits were superb – as were all costumes. James Lavender as Abanazar; David Burton as the Emperor; Daniel Jacob as Genie of the lamp all gave top grade support to the principals. The adult dancers were terrific; their energy, fitness, skill and commitment were breathtaking and contributed to the fizz of the production. The 48 local junior dancers attracted 8,000 grandparents


with their smiles.Without whom, the show would not run. Well done to the backstage team, music and sets.Well done to director Rob Forknall.


Helping hands in the community


A MAIDSTONE-based charity wants to offer a helping hand to the community – particularly to teenagers and young people wanting to branch out in business. HelpingHands, inHedleyStreet, has been launched by businessman


and accountant Paul Norley, to offer start-up advice and funding to would-be young entrepreneurs. It aims to step inwhere organisations such as The Prince’s Trust cannot help. “Our aim is to fully fund our work via commercial activity, rather


than relying on government or grant funding – both of which can be subject to sudden withdrawal,” said Paul. The charity is launching an indoorSunday boot fair, at InvictaGram-


mar and Valley Park School,Huntsman Lane – it will move to an out- door pitch later in the year. Funds raised will be donated to individual causes and community projects. Headded:“Somepeoplemightonlyneedafewhundredpoundstogive


them the kick-start they need. That’s what Helping Hands hopes to do.” The charity has launched a Facebookpage called Big Fat Charity Boot Fair. For further information contact Paul on 07928 776854.


Pat on back for team’s grand designs MAIDSTONE Council’s ground maintenance team has been given a pat on the back for its initiative and inno- vation. The team has made a set of stairs for a play area in


Mote Park, one of the town’s flagship regeneration proj- ects, and at the Archbishop’s Palace, where some edging stones had become damaged, they created a mould and cast their own replacements to achieve a perfect match. Cllr John A.Wilson, cabinet member for community


Darren Rouse, the council’s grounds maintenance contract supervisor


and leisure services, said: “Our grounds maintenance team take a great deal of pride in their work and these jobs show just what they can achieve when faced with a challenge.”


likedhim.We all had reservations about him, but you never expect something like this.” Dawnattended Hadlow College


after finishing Vinters Girls’ School, where she studied pho- tography. She worked as a post- woman inWateringbury and as a barmaid at the Muggleton Inn in Maidstone. She had been due to moveback to Maidstone on July 4. Dawn’s father Barry Taylor said: “Dawn was a loving, kind and beautifulmother, daughterandsis- ter. Today three children grow up with only memories and photos. “Although we now have jus-


tice for Dawn, this will never bring back the smiley and bub- bly personwe all came to know, love and who will forever be missed.”


Premier Inn is


coming to town A NEW 100-bedroom Whit- bread Premier Inn hotel was given the go-ahead for London Road,Maidstone. Maidstone Council’s plan-


ning committee praised the scheme to convert London House, an empty four-storey former borough council office building within the one-way system, into the hotel, which will also have 92 parking spaces - 39 less than previously. Committeemember Cllr Clive English said: “It is useful to have job creation in this partic- ular location through a hotel development as we are not going to get an office develop- ment on this site. “It will continue to extend


and maintain Maidstone’s tourist offer. It is very difficult to find hotel accommodation in Maidstone, particularly at the more reasonable end of the market. “There is a reduction in car parking, but given that this use is likely to generate fewer car journeys than the existing of- fice use, it would have been very difficult to argue against it on those grounds.” Cllr Stephen Paine said: “It is


a grotty old building that has no interest in it. It is a good loca- tion for a hotel and a good stan- dard building.” The application was given unanimous backing.


Health centre opens COUNTY Cllr Graham Gibbens, cabinet member for adult social care and public health, cut the ribbon to mark the opening of a new Live it Well centre in Hol- land Road, Maidstone. The centre provides help for


adults with mental health needs by providing a number of serv- ices in one place. Mcch, a charity that supports


those with a learning disability, mental health need or autism, op- erates from the centre and pro- vides an employment and vocational service to help people get back into work.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 9


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