News
Pervert had 700 abusive images
A SEX offender who downloaded more than 700 child abuse images has been jailed for two years. Stephen Thompson (35), of High-
land Road, Maidstone, was ar- rested last April for breaking the terms of a sexual offences order preventing him from owning any devices capable of accessing the in- ternet. While he was on remand at Elm-
ley Prison, police discovered 733 child abuse images of children aged seven to 14 on a laptop seized from Thompson's home during the original arrest. Of these, 57 images were graded
as category A, which is the most se- rious. A further 70 were graded at category B and 606 at category C. Thompson pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to break- ing his sexual offences prevention order and to six counts of making indecent photographs of children. Detective Constable David Taft
said: “Despite previous convictions and orders designed to curb his be- haviour, Stephen Thompson failed
Courtney for
world games MAIDSTONE rings and vaulting star Courtney Tulloch has been se- lected for next month’s World Gymnastics Championships in China. The 18-year-old, from Pegasus Gymnastic Club in Tovil, who claimed the rings title in the Eng- lish Championships inWigan, will join double Olympic bronze medal- list Max Whitlock, Nile Wilson, Kristian Thomas, Dan Keatings and Dan Purvis in Nanning from Octo- ber 3 to 12. Olympians Becky Downie and Hannah Whelan will feature in the women’s team, which also includes four-time Commonwealth cham- pion Claudia Fragapane.
Motorists caught
in seatbelt checks POLICE issued fixed penalties to 17 motorists for not wearing their seatbelts at Allington after setting up road checks on the A20. Officers pulled over 83 vehicles.
One car was seized after it was found that the driver was on a ban and had no insurance. Three other vehicleswere being driven without an MOT. Officers from Home Office immi- gration enforcement and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency were also in attendance and stopped seven vehicles from being driven until their owners rectified defects.
12 Maidstone Town October 2014
to learn his lesson and has again contributed to the abuse of inno- cent children. This should act as a warning to anyone else considering viewing such material online, that Kent Police officers will use every tool at their disposal to identify those who pose a risk to children and who would be better off be- hind bars.
“Thompson now has plenty of
time to consider the seriousness of his actions and I hope the sentence he has received will finally con- vince him to change hisways.”
A community garden in Allington has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a £1,500 donation from South East Water’s Community Chest Fund. Allington Millennium Green
Trust applied for a grant to replace the deteriorating wooden seating with new benches and to buy plants in keeping with the Roman theme of the garden. Paula Dowling, customer service advisor at South East Water, and Community Chest Fund judge, said: “I’m delighted we have sup- ported a project that benefits the local community where people can enjoy nature and wildlife.” Dr Brian White, Chairman of Allington Millennium Green Trust, said:“We are very grateful to South EastWater for this grant which has allowed us to renew parts of the popular garden so our visitors,
A BARMING woman is being al- lowed to extend herhomefor her ex- tended family. Neighbours of Abingdon Road applicant Mrs Stedman opposed the planning application, as did the parish council, whichwas concerned about the size and scale of the devel- opment. There were also fears the side and rear extension could be used as a separate dwelling. Barming parish councillor Sandra Manser told Maidstone Council’s planning committee: “This applica- tion has every potential to become another house. It does not have the appearance of an extension.” She added:“We do not often refer
an application to this committee and the factwe have showshowstrongly we feel.” Widow Mrs Stedman said her daughter and long-term partner had come to live with her after the part- ner had been in hospital and the
downsmail.co.uk Widow can extend home
arrangementworkedwell. She also had a 74-year-old sister
who often came to stay. She said: “I love my home but
while it is detached, it only has two double bedrooms and a small box room. We want to support each other and this seemed like a good way. I don’t want to have to go into an old people’s home.” Cllr FayGooch said she supported
the reasons behind the application but not the planning considerations. Chairman Cllr Clive English said
he expected similar applications would come forward. Much of the concern related to the
roof line and the fact it made the ex- tension appear to be a separate prop- erty. But Cllr Richard Ash said he was in favour of properties looking different. He said: “To my mind, there is far too much uniformity.” The committee approved the ap- plication.
Drink driver’s three-year ban
ABARMINGman admitted drink driving after an incident in San- dling Road, Maidstone. Stephen Casper (57), of Springwood Road, Barming, was driving
a Ford Transit van when he was stopped. He gave a breath test of 61mg in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Mid Kent magistrates banned him from driving for three years and fined him £200 with £500 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Boost for Millennium Green Fete brings out
best in everyone WHEN Park Wood holds a com- munity event everyone joins in! The council, emergency serv-
ices, church, Tree Tops Academy and the local men’s group were among those who joined neigh- bours to stage the annual fete at the recreation ground in Bicknor Road. Attractions included: Play your
South EastWater’s Paula Dowling
their families and dogs, can con- tinue to enjoy the space.” For more information on South
East Water’s £30,000 Community Chest Fund, go to southeastwa-
ter.co.uk/communitychest
cards right, run by Del Doyle; stocks; darts; Jan Friday’s book stall; tombolas; cake sales and a barbeque and fruit stalls pro- vided by Fusion HLC. There was also a fancy dress competition and a bouncy cas- tle.
The event was decorated with 60 metres of bunting.
MP’s office now arriving at platform one
MAIDSTONE and The Weald MP Helen Grant has moved into a new constituency office at Maidstone East station. Her former office at Link House, Knightrider
Street was sold for re-development earlier this year, after which she held surgeries in supermar- kets and at Maidstone Hospital. The new accommodation next to platform one
on Station Road is shared with Maidstone’s Tuition Academy, although it will not be occu-
pied by both users at the same time. Mrs Grant said: “I am so pleased to be able to
offer my Maidstone constituents such an accessi- ble location. “I will be continuing withmypopular outreach surgeries at supermarkets, Maidstone Hospital, and other public locations across the constituency, but the new office offers another option for meetings as well as a permanent base in the town centre.”
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