News
downsmail.co.uk Award for reformed ex-con
A FATHER from Shepway has received a national achievement award from HRH Countess of Wessex after turning his back on a life of crime.
After seven years behind bars,
Paul Williams (64), picked up the Adult Achiever of the Year award from the Tomorrow’s People char- ity in London. There to congratulate him was
his son, Aston Trundle, who Paul said inspired him to turn his life around. Paul, who got involved in crime
at the age of 10, says joining the To- morrow’s People employment scheme at the Maidstone Enterprise Centre’s Community Employment Hub at Medvale House in Mote Road,was a life-changing moment. Since working with the charity,
Paul has set up a community allot- ment near Park Wood’s church, is a volunteer church caretaker and a driver forAge UK. Paul now hopes to start his own scrap business and is awaiting approval for a loan to buy a van through Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. After accepting his award, Paul
Aston Trundle, Paul Williams HRH Countess ofWessex and Alex Mohun-Smith
said: “Tomorrow’s Peoplewere the only ones who took the time to work with me and didn’t treat me like a number. “Just to be sitting here is an
achievement. It’s going to take a while to sink in, coming from where I have, but I’m so close to achieving something that I never thought possible.” Alec Mohun-Smith, operations manager for the charity in Maid- stone, described Paul’s journey
back into work as a pleasure to watch. He added: “If someone had told me when I met Paul that he’d go on to attend anger management sessions, turn his life around, sup- port men’s group projects and give back to the community in so many different ways I would never have believed it could happen in such a short space of time. “Paul has proven that no matter
what your age, where you come from or how isolated you may feel
in the world, anyone has the ability to change their circumstances and choose the right path. “He has gone from a life of tak-
ing to a life of giving, and now he is about to complete his journey by starting his own company. “I am so proud of Paul and all he
has accomplished. He deserves to find happiness in his life.” Martin Brookes, chief executive
of Tomorrow’s People, said hewas proud of the charity’s work, which offers programme users mentors to build confidence and skills before giving them work experience and help with CVs and interviews. He added: “It is important to give
adults the support they need to overcome their barriers. Our front- line staff invest time in each of their clients and help them to come up with a personalised action plan.” The Tomorrow’s People charity
says 64% of the adults it helps move in to work.
Driverswarned of thefts Driver banned Garage plan
put on hold A PROPOSAL to extend the BP garage in London Road, Allington has been put on hold due to road safety concerns. A planning application for Tudor Garage requested a 4.4m-high sales building, canopy, lighting, fuel pumps, carwash, and changes to the forecourt including vehicle access and egress. The scheme would increase the in-
ternal footprint by 125sqm to 216sqm andwas supported by some councillors buoyed by the economic benefits. However, Maidstone Council’s planning committee voted narrowly in favour of deferring the application. Cllr Dan Daley, who represents Allington ward, told the committee of his safety fears about traffic turn- ing right out of the fuel station, op- posite Castle Road. Cllr Tony Harwood was con-
cerned about the urbanising effect of the scheme onConway Road, which would have a 2m acoustic fence on its boundary as part of the proposal. The committee ordered officers to negotiate a scheme that would force drivers to turn left out of the station and include a native hedgerow on its boundary.
24 Maidstone Town February 2016
POLICE are warning motorists not to leave valuables in their cars after nine vehicles were broken into in Maidstone – seven of them on the same night. Items taken included laptops, mobile phones, sat navs and power tools, with windows smashed on some cars to get in, but advantage taken of others left unlocked. Three of the reported thefts oc-
curred on Boxley Road, while two were in Coltsfoot Drive. The others were reported in Wordsworth Road, Sandling Lane, Byron Road,
Eyhorne Green and Dover Street on December 9 and 10. Inspector Jody Gagan-Cook,
from the Maidstone community safety unit, said: “It is very rare to have as many as nine such inci- dents committed in such a short space of time andwe are not ruling out the possibility that some of these may be linked.” She reminded residents of meas-
ures to reduce the chances of be- coming a victim of crime, including parking in well-lit areas, locking doors and removing valuables.
Grant will help the blind
AMAIDSTONE-based charity has been awarded a grant of £2,500 by the Wolfson Founda- tion.
The British Wireless for the
Blind Fund (BWBF), which pro- vides specially adapted radios for people who are blind and partially-sighted, will use the money to replace recipients’ Sonata sets with a newer model, the Sonata Plus. BWBF, based in Albion Place, needed to replace 130 of the in- ternet radios it has already given out with an updated version and this grant will enable it to pay for the final 10. An earlier donation of £47,500 from the Freemasons’ Grand
Charity paid for the bulk of the new sets. The charity’s fundraising manager, Frances Fielding, said: “We are so grateful to the Wolf- son Foundation for this fantas- tic grant. “Once someone has lost their
sight, a radio is their way of keeping in touch with the world. It provides them with a lifeline and can help combat the loneliness, isolation and depres- sion which sight loss can bring. “Sometimes the cost of a spe- cially-adapted set for someone with sight loss can be too great, so it’s vital we continue to pro- vide our recipients with the most up-to-date technology.”
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A MOTORIST from Shepway has been banned from driving for al- most two years after being stopped while over the drink-drive limit. Ashley Read (24), from Leicester
Road, appeared at Mid Kent Mag- istrates’ Court and admitted driv- ing a Ford Fiesta in Tonbridge Road with 87mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. He was banned from driving for
22 months and ordered to pay a £300 fine, a £150 criminal court charge, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Gun charge AMANfound with an imitation re- volver inMaidstone has been given a suspended jail sentence. Richard Anderson (29), from Church Street, Burham, was sen- tenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court after he admitted being in possession of the imitation firearm. He was sentenced to 60 days in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must also pay a £180 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Theft case
A MAIDSTONE man was jailed after pleading guilty to shoplifting. Liam Etheridge (26) was sen-
tenced to 10 days in prison by Mid Kent magistrates after admitting stealing toiletries worth £51.96 from a pharmacy in Parkwood Parade. Etheridge, of Old Tovil Road, Maidstone, must also pay a £150 criminal courts charge and an £80 victim surcharge.
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