News
Man, 70, guilty of raping boy
A 70-YEAR-old man has been found guilty of raping a young boy and molesting four others over a period spanning four decades. The offences were committed in Headcorn, Cranbrook and Tun- bridgeWells, where Neil McKenna gained access to children via foot- ball clubs hewas managing. McKenna, from TunbridgeWells,
was arrested in November 2013 after an allegation made to Kent Police by a man in his 30s that he had been raped by McKenna when hewas 13. Detectives discovered therewere
other victims, which led to McKenna (pictured) being charged with 24 sexual offences committed between 1976 and 2003 when the boyswere aged eight to 15. Some of the offences took place
in London where McKenna had worked as a sports instructor. McKenna, who denied all of the allegations, was convicted of 17 of the 24 charges by a jury at Maid- stone Crown Court, who returned a unanimous verdict.
They are four offences of rape, 12
of indecent assault and one of in- decency with a child. He is due to be sentenced on No-
vember 27. Detective Constable David
Turner said: “Neil McKenna abused his position in order to carry out the abuse, and we hope his imminent prison sentence will encourage other victims of this type of historic abuse to come forward.”
downsmail.co.uk Charity calendar on sale
COUNTRY and farming events in Staplehurst in the mid-20th century fea- ture in next year’s village calendar. The 2016 calendar, illustrated by Ken Collins, was launched at the Pho-
tographic Society’s annual exhibition, and is now on sale at a number of venues in and around Staple- hurst. It will also be on
sale at the United Reformed Church coffee morning and the French market in Novem- ber and the All Saints’ Church shepherds’ market in December. Proceeds from
sales this year will be divided be- tween Staplehurst Scout Group and Staplehurst District Guides, who desperately need funds for re-roofing the Kathy Lamb Centre in Headcorn Road. The estimated cost of re-roofing the Guides’ building is £24,000, while
the Scouts need funds to cover the cost of their new storage building. The cost of producing the calendars is coveredwith the support of local businesses which advertise and the help of The Hop Press of Marden. Calendars can be bought for £4 each from: Chasing Rainbows, Henhurst
Farm Shop, The King’s Head, Coachman’s Cottage Studio, Martin McColl, Radfords Estate Agents, Staplehurst Post Office, Station Newsagents and Ward & Partners. This is the 12th year the village has produced the calendar, which fea-
tures local photographs, drawings and views. Over the past 11 years, the calendar has raised almost £16,000 for local clubs and organisations.
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8 Maidstone South November 2015
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