News
downsmail.co.uk Drugs trio jailed after house raid
THREE drug dealers have been jailed for more than 15 years after police seized nearly nine kilo- grams of cocaine destined for the streets at a house in Ditton. Police arrested Aaron Elcombe
(38), from Birling, Lee Blanford (48), from Ditton, and Steven Savage (36), from Maidstone, following the suc- cessful drugs operation. Maidstone Crown Court heard
how police saw Elcombe, of Ryarsh Road, get out of a vehicle in Acorn Grove carrying a heavy box into the garage. He emerged a few minutes later with the same box, which ap- peared lighter, and drove off. Fifteen minutes later Blanford arrived at the Acorn Grove address – his home. Elcombewas later stopped by po-
lice and the empty box in the boot of his carwas found to contain traces of white powder and he was taken back to Acorn Grove where officers found nearly 9kg of cocaine, 5kgs of
Rock at park
MAIDSTONE’S Mote Park is get- ting ready to rock’n’roll. An estimated 30,000 people are expected in town from all over Britain and Europe for the town’s first ever Ramblin’ Man fair on the weekend of July 25 and 26. Some of the biggest names from
the golden age of rock headline the two-day festival, including Maril- lion, Blue Oyster Cult, Camel, the Scorpions and Gregg Allman. Organised by The Rock Collective
and TeamRock, the festival aims to bring the best of classic rock, pro- gressive rock and a smattering of country and blues to Mote Park, where Seasick Steve will headline the country and blues stage. There will also be gourmet food, a
beer festival, a spoken word stage, outdoor music cinema, camping and glamping.
Flower talk
AYLESFORD and Eccles WI will meet at the Brassey Centre, Ayles- ford on Wednesday, July 22 for a demonstration of flower arranging. The group is planning how to cel-
ebrate the 100th anniversary of the WI in England for its September meeting so take your ideas along. The competition will be any item beginning with the letterNand the recycling stall will be jewellery. For details, call Eileen on 01622 715205.
Pam’s poems
AYLESARA, the group for anyone over the age of 50, will meet at Aylesford Community centre at 2pm on Thursday, July 23, when Sue Spiel will read the poems of Pam Ayres. For more details, call Wayne on 01622 710734 or just go along. There is no obligation to join at your first visit.
26 Malling July 2015
Fromleft: Author Miriam McGuirk, Paul Andrews and Louise Henley, chairman of Kent Deaf Children Society Picture by Jen Edwards
Book launch helps charity
MORE than £250 was raised for the Kent Deaf Children Society at a book launch organised by Maidstone au- thor Miriam McGuirk. The author, who now divides her
time between the county town and south west Turkey, held the event at The Townhouse Hotel in King Street, Maidstone. Her book, “Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight – a search for sanctuary” tells Miriam’s story ofhow she countered the effects of the ill- nessMEandhow, with the help of her
husband Chris Pollard, she set out for anewlife inTurkey,where the air and climate is ideal for people who live withMEand fybromyalgia. The evening was hosted by Maid- stone-based business entrepreneur Paul Andrews, with raffle prizes do- nated by local companies. KDCS is a registered charity that supports deaf childrenand their fam- ilies. Chairman Louise Henley said: “With the money raised, we will be able to host at least two playtime ses- sions for our younger children.”
sisting, possessing cannabis and possessing CS spray. Maidstone Crown Court sen-
tenced Elcombe to five years and seven months; Blanford to six years and seven months and Savage to three-and-a-half years. DC Donna Hopper said: “The
Aaron Elcombe, Lee Blanford and Steven Savage
cannabis resin and 220gm of herbal cannabis, along with 40kgs of caf- feine and 11kgs of lactose and other drug production
items.Areceipt for 120kg of caffeine led police to Sav- age, from CambridgeWay in Maid- stone. Officers also found a further 8gm of cocaine in the door pocket of
Elcombe’s car and small amounts of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin at his home address. At previous hearings Elcombe pleaded guilty to five counts of sup- plying and possessing Class A and Class B drugs and Lee Blanford to seven counts. Savage admitted as-
drugs we seized would have made the defendants a sizable amount of profit, but we were able to quickly intercept the delivery of the drugs and ensure that they didn’t enter cir- culation in Kent. Itwas obvious from the various items that we seized from Blanford’s house that he and Elcombe were involved in the sup- ply of drugs and I’m pleased thatwe have been able to put a stop to their offending.”
Take a leap to
help hospice DAREDEVILS and have-a-go he- roes are being sought by the Heart of Kent Hospice to raise funds in a freefall for charity. Anyone who can raise £400 in sponsorship for the hospice can take part in the tandem skydive at Headcorn Parachute Club. After training on the ground with a pro- fessional instructor, participants will take to the skies and jump from a plane, harnessed to the in- structor, from a height of 12,000 feet.
The dive begins with a free fall at
over 120mph before the ‘chutes open and bring divers back down to earth. There are various dates available throughout the summer, but the Hospice would particularly like volunteers for the August Bank Holidayweekend,August 29-31. For further information call
Becky in the hospice fundraising department on 01622 790195 or visit
www.hokh.org.
Mayor opens relocated tool factory
DK HOLDINGS has opened its new factory in Staplehurst. The new tool-making facility,
off Station Approach, has been built after Sainsbury’s acquired its previous site on the junction of Station Road. Maidstone Council approved
the retail chain’s application for a supermarket and petrol station in 2013. However, Sainsbury’s has since put its plans on hold and the vacant site is available to let. DK Holdings’ MD Brian Salter
welcomed the move and the offi- cial opening of the site by the
Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Daniel Moriarty. He said: “We were delighted
that the mayor agreed to open our new factory and were pleased to greet many parish councillors. A
John Perry and Rory Silkin with DK Holdings MD Brian Slater and director David Smart and mayor Cllr Daniel Moriarty
keen interest was shown by all in our history and current opera- tions. “We would also like to ex- tend our gratitude to Staplehurst Parish Council for its continued and valued support.”
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