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Bank robber ‘terrified staff’
A COXHEATH bank robber who stole more than £6,000 by terrifying staff with threats of possessing a gun has been jailed for three years and nine months.
Martyn Weldrick
(45) held up staff in the NatWest bank in Heath Road, Cox- heath, in November 2014 – just a month after a similar raid at the NatWest bank in
Hythe. Weldrick was arrested after being chased by members of the public in Coxheath, who noted the registra- tion on his car, which was later traced to his home in Ormonde Road, Hythe. The jury at Maidstone Crown
Court heard how he targeted the NatWest bank in High Street, Hythe, at about 10am onWednesday, Octo- ber 1, 2014. Wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses
and a hooded top, he approached the counter and handed over a piece of paper instructing the member of staff to fill an envelope with money,
adding that he had a gun and would kill people if she refused. He then fled with £5,295 in cash. On Monday, November 3, 2014,
Weldrick carried out a similar raid at the NatWest bank in Coxheath. He left with £1,055, but was chased to his car by a customer and another member of public, who called the police. The vehicle was traced to
Weldrick, who was arrested at his homethe same day. His fingerprints linked him to forensic evidence at the scene of the Hythe robbery. Weldrick pleaded guilty to both
counts of robbery. Acting Detective Sergeant Steve
Smith of Kent Police said: “Martyn Weldrick’s behaviour was wholly unacceptable and for hisownselfish financial gain. He put innocent peo- ple in fear of being killed while they worked for honest money. “Hopefully this sentence will act
as a deterrent to anyone who thinks robbing from a bank is a victimless crime. The staff and customers of both banks acted with courage and good instinct to provide evidence.”
News
Foster carer rewarded for years of dedication
AMAIDSTONE woman has been re- warded for her outstanding contri- bution to fostering in Kent. Debbie Preston-Mcleod and her partner Daniel, from Loose have been fostering since May last year. They have four children aged be-
tween six and 13 and one fostered boy aged four, who has now been with them for more than a year. He has multi-sensory impairments and complex medical needs. Debbie said: “The children dote on
him and include him in everything. They think about him andmake sure he’s happy in every situation, it’s lovely to watch.” Debbie decided to foster after spending 14 years working in a chil- dren’s hospice. She said: “At first, a couple of chil-
dren came to us for respite care on weekends and holidays. Thenwe did long-term respite, so that our own children could get used to having other children in the house.” Debbie was among 22 carers pre-
sentedwith a certificate for their out- standing contributions to Kent’s fostering service. Philip Segurola, director of special- ist children’s services at KCC said:
“Foster carers do an amazing job. Now more than ever we need to show our foster carers howmuchwe appreciate them. These awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the in- dividuals and their families making a difference to a child’s life. “With the extra pressure we have
on all staff in our children’s services due to the increased amount of un- accompanied asylum-seeking chil- dren coming into Kent we desperately need more people to consider fostering a child. More fam- ilies are needed in Kent for children with disabilities and learning diffi- culties, some ofwhomhave complex needs, to give them the chance of a better future.” Foster carers can be single, in a
long-term relationship, with or with- out children and do not need to own their own home. They need a spare roomand the determination and un- derstanding to make life better for vulnerable children. To find out more about fostering,
visit
www.kentfostering.co.uk Debbie said: “I’m so glad we did
this. Sometimes, in the beginning, you feel as if you’rewading through toffee but it’s so worth it.”
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