Energy chief jailed for £2m fraud


A FORMER Kent County Coun- cil energy chief has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of a £2million fraud. Ross Knowles (42), of Larking


Drive, Allington, bought a Jaguar car and luxury holidays, Maidstone Crown Court heard. He was head of energy pro- curement for Laser (Local Au- thorities South East Region) which buys gas and electricity for KCC, Kent Police and about 120 other local authorities, and


Lambing time


THE Young Farmers' Club at New Line Learning Academy held a lambing day at the NLL Farm in Boughton Lane, Maid- stone. There were craft stalls and a


range of local produce, plus the chance to get up close to the farm’s cuddly new arrivals.


Bungalow refusal IN last month’s Downs Mail we said a plan to for a three-bed- room chalet-style bungalow to the rear of 85 Boughton Lane, Maidstone, had been approved. In fact, this application was refused. Maidstone Council granted planning consent for a part two-storey and part single storey side and rear extension at the same property.


Hedge must stay APPLICANT Evano Durling was forbidden from replacing a hedge, which he claimed was dying, with a wall at 358 Ton- bridge Road, Maidstone. Maidstone Council’s decision


notice said: “The wall due to its height, expanse and positioning, is considered to be visually harmful to the open character of Cherry OrchardWay.”


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THE SALVATION ARMY


74-80 Union Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1ED You are invited to the


SUMMER SPECTACULAR concert at The Friars, Aylesford (ME20 7BX)


on Saturday 16th June 2012 at 7pm. Featuring: Regent Hall (London) Songsters - (choir) & Maidstone Salvation Army Band. Bring your own deckchair & picnic and enjoy a musical evening in beautiful surroundings.


Tickets £5 can be purchased in advance from the Community Office, or will be available on arrival at The Friars.


For further information please contact the Community Office on 01622 681808.


18 Town www.downsmail.co.uk To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


was responsible for the bulk purchase of energy worth hun- dreds of millions of pounds from Centrica. But unknown to KCC Com- mercial Services, which own LASER, Knowles negotiated a management fee with Centrica, of 0.04 pence per kilowatt hour, to be added to the electric en- ergy supplied and used. Fraudulent invoices with LASER branding were sent to Centrica, bearing an address in


West Malling close to KCC. Ac- count details provided were in the name of Mr R Knowles, t/a (trading as) LASER. Between July 2009 and De- cember 2010, £2,173,246 was paid to the fraudulent account. Knowles was arrested at his


work place in January, 2011. Det Con Mark Agnew said: “Knowles deliberately set out to fraudulently secure a vast amount of money for himself. “He moved around £260,000


THE Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit the Boxley Parish Community Orchard at Penhurst Close, Grove Green, on Thursday, May 31, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee. Martin Pepper, outgoing


chairman of the parish coun- cil, said: “This is a massive honour for the parish council and the community, and I can’t think of a better way to launch and introduce the new orchard than with the support of Their Royal High- nesses. “The council hopes the community will turn out to welcome our guests and join in the fun.


to other bank accounts that he controlled, and spent about £140,000 on luxury purchases including a Jaguar car and holi- days.


“The investigation was com-


plex, but the fraud itself was quite straightforward. “But our work doesn’t end


with Knowles’ imprisonment. We’ve frozen his bank account and now we’ll go through the process of clawing back the pro- ceeds of his crimes.”


Royal couple to open orchard “More details will be issued


and placed on the council’s website and notice boards, so everyone can become in- volved. The visit is part of the build-


up to the official Diamond Ju- bileeweekend of June 2, 2012, and the community orchard has been planted by the parish council in recognition of the celebrations. The project recalls the old


apple and cherry orchards, which were a traditional fea- ture of the area. The orchard has been planted with fruit and nut trees and will include a natu- ral area for wildlife. A neg- lected playground on the site has been refurbished.


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