Littering smokers offered way out


SMOKERS who are fined for dropping cig- arette butts on the streets of Maidstone could get some of theirmoney back – if they give up the habit. Maidstone council,which operates a zero- tolerance litter policy, issues £75 fixed penalty notices to offenders, and most of them are given for smoking-related rubbish. Now anyone fined for discarding ciga-


rettes can claim back £50 in high street vouchers through a NHS Stop Smoking course. Offenders who pay their fines will be offered a leaflet inviting them to attend a free seven-week Quit Club. If they kick thehabit they will get the vouch-


School cabin plan BARMING Primary School has unveiled a plan for a portable cabinwithin its grounds for one year.


Maidstone Council backed


the scheme, providing that “every effort should be made” for it to be replaced with a per- manent teaching area, should it become apparent that there is a long-term requirement for the additional teaching space.


Shoplifter jailed A MAIDSTONE manwas jailed for 90 days after stealing toi- letries from a pharmacy. Andrew Dighton (35), of Beaumont Road, admitted two counts of shoplifting in July in Maidstone and was also resen- tenced by Mid Kent Magistrates for a previous offence.


THE padlock to a bin in the un- derground car park at Hayle Mill, Hayle Mill Road, Tovil, had been cut off, but nothing appeared to have been stolen. Several other bins were also af- fected. A bag containing a mobile phone, cash and tobacco was stolen from the corner of a field in Boughton Lane, where the owner was working. The roof rack and driver’s


door of a black BMW 316 were damaged in the Brewer Street car park and a silver Rock Hop- per mountain bike was stolen. A man was disturbed by a


noise outside his home in Chatham Road in time to wit- ness his green Volvo V70 being stolen. The vehicle was later re- covered. The suspects were both male. One was 6ft tall, stocky and wore a hoodie, and the other was 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build. Hewas wearing dark clothing and carrying a bag containing alcohol. The rear patio door of a house


in Bower Mount Road was smashed, an untidy search was made and three watches were stolen. A GT 3.0 Avalanche cycle


and lock were stolen from the cycle rack by the Cannon in the High Street. Ablack Vauxhall Astra, regis- tration number LV60 DLD, was stolen from the car park behind Marden House, LangtonWay. The rear door of a gents hair-


46 Town


ers to spend in the town’s shops. People taking part will have their carbon monoxide levels monitored each week to prove they are no longer smoking. But critics, including town centre man-


ager Bill Moss, say the scheme is a waste of tax-payers’ money. Graham Thomas from the Kent Commu-


nity Health NHS Trust stop smoking team said: “We know quitting is tough but no one hastogoitalone.Wecan provideadvice and practical support to help people to quit. We can also provide nicotine replacement therapy for a normal prescription charge.” The Quit Club will be held in Maidstone


AN ARMED robber who spent eight-and-a-half years behind bars is planning to start his own plumbing business with support from MidKent College. Lee Saunders (37), who was


jailed in 2004 after a string of raids on security vans, betting shops and other targets in Lon- don – is currently helping to refurbish toilet blocks at the Maidstone campus. He studied at the college


while in prison, butwon a con- tract to fix up the plumbing fol- lowing his release in July. He said: “When I was younger, I lived a party lifestyle and could never hold down a job, so I turned to a life of crime.


“I’m not proud of what I did.


Going to prison was the wake- up call I needed, and it made me realise where I’d gone wrong in life.


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 101 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


dressers in Bower Place, Fant, was forced and the air ambu- lance collecting box, cash and sweets were stolen. A set of Peter Alliss


golf clubs, and a pur- ple Peter Alliss golf bag, were stolen from the car park on Hayle Mill Road in Tovil. Intruders tried to


force the door of an out- building, on CumberlandAv- enue in Shepway. There was an attempted bur-


glary at a property on Lower Fant Road in Fant. There was an attempt to force the door, but no entry was gained. Intruders tried to force the


doors on three sheds at proper- ties in Union Street in Maid- stone. However no entry was gained. The number plates were


stolen from a silver Ford Ka parked in Church Street, Tovil, but were later recovered in Barming. A pane of glass was smashed


on a double-glazed conserva- tory at a home in Postmill Drive, Tovil. A quantity of earthing cable was stolen from ParkWay.


Thieves smashed the side window of a car in the car park at Mote Park, Willow Way, and a handbag containing cheques/cards and doc- uments which had been hidden under a coat in the footwell were stolen. A lock was forced on themetal door of a garage in a block in Hayle Road. A grey Vengeance mountain


bike which had been locked to the cycle rack near the Cannon in the High Street was stolen. A burglar got in to a home in


Tonbridge Road through an open front door and stole a wal- let, mobile phone, and sets of keys. A man seen acting suspi- ciously in the area was de- scribed as a white European male, about 30 years old, 5ft 10ins tall, with blond hair and slim build. He was wearing knee-length shorts. A Stihl leaf blower was stolen


from a white Mercedes van in Western Road, Fant. Ablack satchel bag was stolen


from a silver Ford Focus on Gar- denWalk in Mote Park. A black and red mountain bike was stolen from a car park


from next month to coincidewith a national stop smoking campaign. Anyone who has paid a fine for dropping smoking-related lit- ter during August can attend. The scheme will begin as a pilot, jointly funded by the NHS and Maidstone council from the paid fines. Vouchers cannot be spent on tobacco or alcohol. Cabinet member for environment Cllr Marion Ring said: “The figures tell us the vast majority of littering in Maidstone is smoking-related. “This scheme not only helps someone re-


coup some of their penalty charge, it also of- fers them a lifeline to a smoke-free future.”


New trade helps ex-robber go straight Plumber


Lee Saunders


Lee, who plans to move to Maidstone from his home in Ealing, west London, said: “I took up plumbing because I thought I should learn a trade. If you help yourself, then peo- ple will help you. “Having my studies to focus


on has turned my life around – I’ve come out of prison a differ- ent person.” Leewon the contract to work


on the UCA toilets from En- train, a company which helps people set up their own firms. He said: “Entrain and the col-


lege have helped me so much, I’ve a lot to thank them for. I’m hoping this is the start of some- thing really good for me.”


in Buckland Gardens. Amotorcycle cover and an L-


plate were stolen from a Honda motorcycle in Beaconsfield Road, Tovil. Asilver Audi TT car, registra-


tion number V434 TVY, was stolen fromWillowWay. Thieves forced the door at a garage on Sandling Lane in Pe- nenden Heath, and stole a yel- low and black scooter, registration number FE02GMY. Burglars stole alcohol from a


shed in Castle Road in Alling- ton.


Catalytic converters were


stolen from a white Mercedez Benz van on St Michael’s Close. A window was removed from the van and placed on the floor. A small box and a garden


chair covered in green striped fabric were stolen from a prop- erty in Valley Drive, Loose. A silver Peugeot car, registra-


tion number S768 FGX, was stolen from Hartnup Street in Fant.


YOUR HOME ALARMS FROM £495


SECURE +VAT


CALL 01622 880751 ALARMS & SECURITY LTD


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


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48