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Robbers target homes with residents inside


A LINTON businessman has relived the harrowing moments in which he


was violently attacked by at least three masked raiders in his own home. In a terrifying ordeal, the 67-year


old was beaten and tied up while the men – believed to be Irish – ran- sacked his home, stealing family heirlooms and priceless antiques. Detectives are not ruling out the possibility that this particular inci- dent is linked with at least six other violent raids which have occurred since November, including inci- dents in Sandhurst, Rolvenden, Ashford and Sissinghurst and are appealing for anyone with informa- tion to come forward.


A chilling aspect of the crimes is that the raiders appear to be target-


ing properties when owners are present – perhaps because alarms are not activated.


In the Linton raid, the victim was sitting alone watching TV when he heard a noise at the front of his house. When he went to investigate, he found the three burly men, all wearing balaclavas, trying to kick in his front door. When they failed, they turned their attention to an ad- joining full-length window, which they kicked in and smashed in order to gain entry. “With hindsight, I should have run out the back, but it’s not the


kind of thing you expect to hap- pen,” he said. Although the house is secure and alarmed when unoc- cupied, the alarm was not set be- cause the owner was at home at the time of the raid – typical of at least six other robberies across the re- gion,say police.


“The men break in to occupied houses, which is terrifying in itself. I was more concerned about keep- ing my life than my property,” said the shaken victim. “They were shouting ‘where is the safe? Where is the safe?’ and didn’t believe that I


32 Man jailed


for fraud A YALDING man has been jailed for 16 months after being found guilty of fraud. Chilean-born Jose Pablo Oli-


Revellers enjoy the celebrations in Yalding Picture by James Martin Victory party 70 years on


THE clouds lifted as did the spirits as villagers in Yalding and Laddingford came together to celebrate Victory in Europe. Seventy years after Britain


marked VE Day, there was more partying in the streets to mark the anniversary, with vintage vehicles, music and entertainment. After a fill of food and drink, courtesy of local restaurants, tea


www.charterwood.co.uk


rooms and hostelries, there was dancing to the big band sound of Five Star Swing, from Sittingbourne, while the children were treated to a good old- fashioned battle between Punch and Judy. There was also a fascinating


display of vintage vehicles supplied by collector Brian Larkin, from Mill Lane.


vares Penroz (51), from Ben- over Road, the husband of one-time Ukip candidate Er- icka Olivares, who hit the headlines for her confrontation with Prime Minister David Cameron in the aftermath of the Yalding floods, worked as a book-keeper and accountant from his home in Benover Road.


He is a former company di- rector and company secretary to numerous companies, now dissolved.


Mr and Mrs Olivares Penroz


moved to Yalding from Thamesmead, south east Lon- don, about 10 years ago and were among the many victims of the 2013 floods. He was sentenced to 16 months in jail for committing fraud and ordered to pay a vic- tim surcharge of £100.


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Charterwood Late-night culture


MAIDSTONE Museum is open until 9pm on Thursdays. For in- formation see the Maidstone Council-sponsored 12-page Bor- ough Update in the centre pages.


May 2015 No. 217 News


Town sport success


MAIDSTONE’s rugby and foot- ball clubs have been celebrating winning their respective league titles.


Halfway house off


A CHARITY has pulled out of converting a former pub into homeless accommodation after a price increase. 4


Traveller requests


MAIDSTONE Council has asked 241 landowners if they would allow their land to be converted into gypsy sites.


Jail for church killer


A HOMELESS man was given a life term for murdering his friend in the porch of Headcorn church.


Comment


Crime Reports 28 Obituaries


COMPLAINTS were made about caravan sales in Broomfield and Kingswood; a reinstated post box was wanted in Chart Sutton; a £30,00 payment was made by Coxheath for traffic calming; thefts marred an antiques fair in East Farleigh; outgoing Cllr David Burton was thanked for his work in Langley; there were fears for the cricket club in Linton.


46-47 30


10 28


Parish Councils 42-43 8 3,6


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