News


downsmail.co.uk Worker in court aer accident


AFORKLIFT truck operator from Larkfieldwas prosecuted for safety failings after a teenagerwas seriously injured when a half-tonne heater fell on him. The 18-year-old worker, who


does notwant to be named, needed reconstructive surgery after sus- taining multiple fractures of his right shoulder, left shin bone and left ankle in the incident at a manu- facturing company in Maidstone on June 25 last year. He was crushed by a large unit


weighing 493kg after being asked to hold it in place on the forks of a truck driven by Stephen Belling- ham (49), of Brooklands Road. Bellingham appeared in court


after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Maid- stone magistrates heard the unit had been removed from a factory


appeal to start VERDICTS given to two men in re- lation to the murder ofWest Malling teacher Lauren Patterson will go be- fore an appeal court on June 8. The 24-year-old, whose family


home is in Leybourne Chase, went missing last year after a night out in Quatar, where she was teaching English at a primary school. Her badly-burned body was


found in a remote area near Doha. She had been stabbed twice. Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah


al-Jabr pleaded not guilty, claiming she died accidentally, but was con- victed of her murder last month and sentenced to death. Mohamed Ab- dallah Hassan Abdul Azizwas sen- tenced to three years in jail for helping to dispose of her body and getting rid of evidence. Defence lawyers are seeking lighter sentences.


The unit that fell on a teenage worker


building and placed next to a skip that hewanted to access, as his role included sorting and loadingwaste into skips using a forklift. He managed to manoeuvre the


unit onto the forks of the truck, but noted it was unstable and asked a


passing colleague to help steady the load. The co-worker held it in place as best he could, but as itwas lifted it slid off and fell, landing on top of him. HSE said Bellingham was acting entirely independently in opting to move the unit in this way. He was an experienced forklift operator, but failed to assess the risks and possible consequences. He was fined £270 after admit-


ting a breach of health and safety at work regulations. He had been dis- missed for gross misconduct as a result of the incident, and had been unable to find work or claim bene- fits since.


Magistrates said a higher fine


would not compensate for the suf- fering he had already endured be- cause of a momentary lapse of judgement. After the hearing, HSE Inspector


Kevin Golding said: “This incident demonstrates all too clearly that a single poor decision – on this occa- sion asking an inexperienced col- league to stand in a dangerous position to steady a large, heavy and unstable load – can have dev- astating consequences. The young worker is fortunate to have re- gained full mobility, but hewas un- able to work for a considerable period.”


Teacher killing Volunteers help charity garden blossom


MORE than 100 workers from Kim- berley-Clark at Kings Hill pitched in to plant and build for a day to help a Maidstone charity. Each year, Kimberly-ClarkUKholds


a community day and this year chose Dandelion Time, at West Farleigh, which helps troubled families and children struggling with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The workers carried out a variety of


tasks, ranging frompainting and dec- orating, planting a therapy garden, concreting a donkey stable, building a clay oven and pagoda roof and fix- ing gates and fencing. LocalNHSstaff turned out to plant


30 trees as part of the NHS national sustainability day. The tree planting is beingmanaged


by Dr Caroline Jessel, medical adviser and sustainability lead for NHS Kent and Medway, who is also a founder and trustee of Dandelion Time.


Volunteers who planted up a garden at Dandelion Time The NHS forest project aims to en-


sure that one tree is planted for every NHSemployee inthe country –atotal of 1.3 millions trees. Volunteers, family, friends, babies


and dogs accompanied the staff for the planting day at the woodland area at Elmscroft, Dandelion Time’s base in Charlton Lane. A total of 3,700 trees are now


planted and represent the largest NHS forest site in Kent. Dr Jessel said:“NHSEngland inKent


andMedway are delighted to be part of this day. “The site will benefit the children


and families who come to Dande- lion Time but also the wider com- munity.” Jane Angell-Payne, operations manager at Dandelion Time, said: “We had a fantastic day, with so many people working hard together to achieve so much.” Most of the big-name DIY chains donated materials and equipment.


Assistant police chief appointed School’s call


KENT police has appointed a new assistant chief constable for central operations. She is Chief Superintendent Jo


Shiner (42), from Norfolk Constab- ulary. Mrs Shiner will be responsible for


a portfolio in Kent which includes critical incidents, initial crime in- vestigations, special branch, fron- tier operations and roads policing. Mrs Shiner has 21 years of polic-


ing service, and has held a wide range of operational roles since joining Norfolk Constabulary in 1993 as a student officer. She has also led a variety of busi-


ness areas at strategic level for Nor- folk, including the protection of vulnerable people within commu- nities, and has been a tactical and


34 Malling May 2014


strategic firearms commander for the past 10 years. She lives with her husband and is


actively involved with charitywork in her community.


The ap- pointment of Mrs Shiner (pictured) fol- lows a selec- tion process culminating in an interview panel chaired by Kent's Chief Consta-


ble Alan Pughsley, and included the Police and Crime Commis- sioner Ann Barnes, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Brandon, Kent Po- lice’s director of human resources


Ian Drysdale, and chief executive officer of the Kent Equality Cohe- sion Council, Gurvinder Sandher. The Chief Constable said: “Chief Superintendent Shiner’s experience will be invaluable, and I know that all the officers and staff of the force willwelcome this appointment and offer their support to her.” Ann Barnes said: “I had the hon-


our of interviewing excellent offi- cers for the post and I was particularly impressed byChief Su- perintendent Shiner’s innovative ideas about victim services and in- volving local communities in local decision making. “I am convinced she will be an


asset to Kent Police and will be a real role model to those aspiring to reach a chief officer rank.”


for playhouse STAFF at Wateringbury Primary School are hoping a kind-hearted benefactor will come forward with help in the shape of a large play- house for the pupils. The friends of the school have


held a number of discos for the children, which raised £900. One of the biggest fundraisers is


the annual golf day at PoultWood Golf Centre on Friday, June 13, which starts with bacon butties and ends with dinner. The friends want to replace the playhouse used by the children in early years and reception classes. Anyone who can help should call FOWPS chairman Gail Isted via the school on 812199, or email en- quiries@fowps.org.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