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News Pair jailed for bole aack in pub


TWOmenhave been jailed after they attacked off-duty police officers with a beer bottle and their fists in aWest Malling pub.


Jack Botton and Tommy Dunn interrupted a private party in a function room at The Farm House pub, and when asked to leave at- tacked two police officers, leaving one of them partially sighted in one eye.


Botton (22), of Windmill Lane


West,West Malling and Dunn (24), of Holland Road, Maidstone had tried to enter the party after leaving the main part of the pub during the evening of May 10, 2013. After being told to leave they refused. The victims intervened and iden-


tified themselves as off-duty offi- cers from the Metropolitan Police. Dunn and Botton attacked the men using a beer bottle and their fists. Botton struck one officer over the head with the bottle before jabbing it into the other officer’s eye. The offenders then tried to goad


other people at the party into a fight. A witness took photos of them both whilst pretending to


Tragedy at


Town Hall TRIBUTES have been paid to a Snodland man who collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack at Maidstone Town Hall. John Stephenson (75), of Midsum-


mer Road, Snodland, was at the town hall for an interview for work as a driver with a charity. The former psychiatric nurseworked at Malling Volunteer Bureau after retiring about 15 years ago. John, who served in the Royal


Navy before working as a psychi- atric nurse, was known locally as a giving and caring man who carried out a lot of voluntary work. He was also an animal lover and member of Splashpals; a group of owners of Newfoundland dogswho tour the country giving demonstra- tions with their pets. John leaves his wife Jo, four chil- dren and two stepdaughters.


Business hub THE enterprise hub due to open in Maidstone town centre this summer will be called The Business Terrace. Work continues on converting the


first floor terrace of Maidstone Gate- way, in King Street, into a space for start-up and small businesses. Due to open by the end of July,


The Business Terrace will provide small businesses of up to nine em- ployees with eight offices, network- ing, hot desks, seminar space and a meeting room. Karen Franek, princi- pal economic development officer, said: “It is about businesses feeling they own the space.”


Jack Botton (left) and Tommy Dunn have been jailed after the violent attack


make a phone call and the images were later used to help police iden- tify and arrest both men. During a police interview, Botton


at first said he couldn’t remember anything from the evening. He then changed his story and claimed he had come to the rescue of a man being attacked in a fight, but didn’t


throw any punches himself. Ap- pearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Bottonwas sentenced to five and a half years in prison and Dunnwas jailed for 13 months. Bot- ton had previously admitted two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. Dunn had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, oc-


casioning actual bodily harm. Detective Constable Paul New-


ton, who led the inquiry, said: “Bot- ton and Dunn were both intent on causing trouble that evening. The victims had identified themselves as police officers and performed their responsibilities irrespective of the fact that they were off duty. “The offenders were then re- sponsible for an entirely unpro- voked assault, which has caused long-term damage to one of their victim’s eyes. “This has forced an experienced


police officer to become non-opera- tional, due to the scale of his injury, as it is unlikely he will ever regain full vision. “It has taken a long time to get


justice in the investigation, and I would like to thank the numerous witnesses involved in this case. I’m pleased that the wholly unneces- sary violent actions of these two men have now been punished.”


Ellan runs 10 marathons in 10 days


AN AYLESFORD mum broke a speed record when she ran an amazing 10 marathons in as many days. Ellan Iaquaniello (43), fromLondon


Road, becameonly the fourthwoman to complete the Brathay 10in10 chal- lenge, which involves running the Windermere Marathon route in the Lake Disrict on 10 consecutive days. Although she only started running


long distances with her club, Larkfield AC, just four years ago, the final day of the event saw her notch up her 90th marathon. The challenge is the annual


fundraising event for the Brathay Trust, which helps to inspire disad-


vantaged children. So far, Ellan has raised £6,000 for the national charity. Only 79 people, including Ellan,


have completed the 262 hilly miles. She alsomanagedto setanewrecord as the fastest-ever female veteran over 40, with a total time of 42 hours, averaging 4hrs 17mins permarathon. She said: “It’s a gruelling event, re- lentless on the mind and body. Not only are you away from your family for the 10 days but you go though so much pain including ice baths and in- tense deep tissue massage. But the motivation comes fromknowing that the money raised will go to help dis- advantaged and abused children.”


Bus subsidy for pupils Nursery praise


MALLING parents will be able to get help with the cost of getting their children to school after the county council agreed to continue its sub- sidised student bus pass. The Kent Young Persons’ Travel


Pass provides unlimited bus travel for 11- to 16-year-olds, fromMonday to Friday, from 6am to 7pm. In spite of the county council not receiving any government grant for the scheme, the cabinet has agreed the subsidised travel pass – used by 25,000 pupils – will be available for £250, with free passes offered to fam- ilies with more than two children needing to get the bus to school. The pass costs £588, with £338


picked up by council tax payers. Matthew Balfour, KCC’s cabinet


member for transport, said: “This is a very generous scheme. I am de- lighted that parents will continue to benefit from a significant subsidy for their school transport costs. “In order to help parents who


have more than two children attend- ing secondary school, we will pro- vide additional passes free for a third or fourth child – that is at no extra cost to the parents. This repre- sents a significant saving for those families concerned.” Currently, families can pay for the


pass in two instalments. The county council is also to investigate spread- ing payments across each term to make it easier to manage. For details visit www.kent.gov.uk/youngper- sonstravelpass.


ST Peter’s School nursery in Mount Pleasant,Aylesford has maintained its good Ofsted rating. An inspector found that the out-


door space was well used and the children’s physical development was well promoted. Children were able to choose what to do, promot- ing independence. Teachingwas good, with staff en- gaging children well, encouraging speaking and thinking skills. Be- haviour was also good, and key persons made sure they knew the children in their group. In order to achieve an outstand-


ing rating, observations showing the impact of an activity on a child’s learning should be made clear, and parents should have easy access to policies and procedures.


Malling June 2015 31


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