Incapacity claimant refereed soccer


A SHEPWAY man who claimed more than £10,000 in incapacity benefit during a three- year spell was secretly filmed refereeing football matches during that time. Father-of-four Christopher Hodgeson, 49,


of Norfolk Road, had refereed 38 football matches between January 2007 and Decem- ber 2009. An undercover surveillance team from the Department of Work and Pensions filmed Hodgeson as he took charge of matches in theMaidstone and District League. He admitted two charges of failing to promptly notify a change in his circum- stances andwas sentenced to a three-month curfew order.


The court was told Hodgeson’s condition


- he suffers from arthritis and osteoporosis - meant he needed personal care, someone to prepare his meals and had been provided with aMotability scooter. He claimed he was only "following doc-


tor’s orders" by refereeing the games. Hodgeson said he had not deliberately at- tempted to flout the law and officiated at matches to stave off the effects of his condi- tion because he "didn’t want to end up in a wheelchair". He needed painkillers before and after matches, but wanted to stay "fit for as long as possible". Hodgeson, who retired from his job as a


civilian tyre fitter for the Army due to ill health, took up refereeing more than 10 years ago. The court was told Hodgeson "loved foot-


ball" and was a supporter of the Maidstone League.


Hodgeson was placed on a curfew order between 7pm and 7am.He was also ordered to pay £100 costs as well as the false claim amount.


Following the case, Lord Freud, minister


forwelfare reform, said: "Benefit thieves are costing the taxpayer almost £1 billion per year. This money is intended to help those most in need not line the pockets of crimi- nals."


Helen is tickled pink to join students who raised £1,400 for cancer charity


MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant dressed in pink to support Invicta Girls Grammar School for breast cancer awareness month. Helen arrived at the school and met pupils wearing similar colours. She then enjoyed a tour in the company of head- teacher Julie Derrick. The school inviteed pupils to donate £1


for being allowed to wear their own clothes to school. They raised more than


Helen Grant pictured with Invicta students, Julia Smith, the HSBC-sponsored school governor, head- teacher Julie Derrick and Stuart Wharf, manager of HSBC’s High Street branch.


£1,400, all going to the charity Break- through Breast Cancer. The school also collaborated with a


local HSBC branch in Maidstone High Street, where staff also went pink for the day and successfully raised £250. They also ran a competition in which prizes in- cluded three hampers containing only pink products. Mrs Grant said: “£1.5 million was raised during the last Breast Cancer


A BUS stop is to be moved further up Bluebell Hill after Arriva drivers complained it was dan- gerous to pull out into fast-flowing traffic head- ing up the A229. The 101 service has not stopped at Cobtree


since June. In July, a petition, signed by school- children's parents and other users, was presented


AwarenessMonth, and I hope we can con- tribute to beating that target. “It is marvellous to know that so many


local businesses and schools are doing something to raise money for this cause. “All the girls at Invicta looked pretty in


pink for the day and I was delighted to be invited to join them. Luckily I had a shocking pink outfit already in my wardrobe which was perfect for the event.”


Danger bus stop on A229 is set to move Search on for


to Maidstone's Joint Transaportation Board. Local county councillor Paul Carter, who is


leader of KCC, put pressure on officers to investi- gate quickly potential low-cost solutions. Three optionswere presented to the board's Oc-


Agreement on new Rose Inn plan THE redevelopment at the for- mer Rose Inn pub in Farleigh Hill, Tovil, will now consist of 11 homes. Planning consent had already


been granted for 11 two-bed flats and three two-bed houses, but applicant Wisley Develop- ments wanted to reconfigure this to provide eight houses (three two-bed and five three- bed terraces) and six flats (three one-bed and three studios). Following a deferral from the


tober meeting – and Cllr Carter favoured the one to create a new bus stop-lane across themouth of the Cobtree Golf Course junc- tion.


planning committee, another re- vamped design consisted of eight two-bedroom houses and three two-bedroom flats. The re- duction by three units and an increase in parking spaces from eight to 10 was approved by committee members. It was also agreed that the parish council should have a large say on which green spaces should be improved through the £17,325 payment that will be received from the developer.


This is the most cost-effective (£44,000), said Cllr Carter, though he urged officers to seek further quotes to try to lower the price. He said he would give the scheme high priority from his member’s funding allowance. Arriva has given an undertak-


ing its drivers would stop at the new location. The disadvantage for passen-


gers is that it is 300m further north from the existing stop.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


new coroner THE recruitment process to ap- point a new local coroner has begun – but the successful can- didate maybegivenamuch heavier workload. Mid-Kent and Medway coro-


ner Roger Sykes is to retire on April 30 next year after 25 years in his role. KCC has advertised the role at a salary of £90,291, but says that the incumbent may also become the office holder of oneormoreofthe three other jurisdictions. The job description adds:


“The successful applicant will be a barrister, solicitor or med- ical practitioner with proven post-qualification work experi- ence.”Mr Sykes’ successorwill beginwork on April 1, shadow- ing him for a month.


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