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Tools thrown at police in chase
TWO police officers were injured and the public put at risk after a van thief being chased by police unhitched a trailer and digger and threw tools in the road to escape. Maidstone Crown Court heard
how Wayne Byrne also threw a wheelbarrow from the back of the van at the pursuing police car. The stolen van, in which Byrne (32) was travelling then rammed the police car on a number of occa- sions, causing the officers whiplash injuries. The court heard that Byrne (pic-
tured) and his accomplices had stolen a Ford Transit van from out- side a property on Sutton Road, Maidstone, which was spotted by officers a short time later travelling along Headcorn Road in the direc- tion of Staplehurst. A pursuit began, with Byrne
eventually climbing out of the pas- senger seat and into the back of the van through the side door. He then
opened the back door to detach the trailer before throwing the wheel- barrow aswell as a generator, vari- ous power tools and clothing into the road. The pursuit ended a short time
later because of the damage to the patrol car, but a subsequent search by the police helicopter and a dog handler resulted in Byrne being found hiding in a trailer at a farm in Sutton Valence. Byrne, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to 18 months in prison after admitting two counts of attempting to commit grievous bodily harm, and one count of theft. Investigating officer DC Laura
Pallett said: “Wayne Byrne injured two officers in a failed attempt to escape the consequences of his of- fending and it was fortunate they were not more seriously hurt. “Byrne showed no concern for
the officers’welfare or the safety of other road users while throwing items out of the back of the van he had stolen, which is obviously an incredibly dangerous thing to do.”
News Farmhouse considered
AFARMERis set to receive planning permission to build a house for the manager ofWarnhams Farm, High Street,West Farleigh. Ayear ago, ThomasSewellwas re-
fused planning permission for a five- bedroom home due to it harming the open countryside and lack of ev- idence of an agricultural need for the property. But after reducing the size to four bedrooms and a heartfelt plea at the Town Hall, the planning committee deferred the application for officers to come up with conditions that would make the scheme acceptable. Mr Sewell said: “We farm 1,000
acres for 10 landowners but don't have a farmhouse of our own. “Our main grain storage atWarn-
hams Farm holds 3,500 tonnes of grain.We need to check this grain for temperature, moisture, protein and height. Being on site to monitor and
maintain the condition of the pro- duce is vitally important. We also need to be on site for the security of 80,000 litres of liquid fertiliser and chemical pesticides. “We are a family of six, with four children, living in a small three-bed- room bungalow in which we have no security of tenure.” There were 13 letters of support
and West Farleigh Parish Council also called for the go-ahead. Committee member Cllr Tony Harwood feared a precedent could be set.Hesaid: “There are clusters of farm buildings without farm houses throughout the borough. “However, I can think of a situa-
tion where we have allowed farm- houses by coming up with detailed conditions.” The committee voted unani- mously for officers to negotiate these conditions for the applicant.
Garden scheme is permitted
MARDEN Parish Council's objection to the loss of agricultural land in Hunton Road was in vain. It felt the proposal to convert 0.2 hectares of land to a residential garden,
alongwith the erection of fencing and landscaping at The Roundels, Gatehouse Farm Oast, would have been an “encroachment into open countryside”. However, after officers from Maidstone Council claimed the land was “of in-
different agricultural quality” and that losing it would not harm the rural character of the area, the planning committee voted to support the scheme.
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