Town March 2016

News Care home

must improve A HOME for the elderly in Maid- stone has been told it needs to im- prove the service it offers. Abbeyrose House received an unannounced visit from three Care Quality Commission inspectors who found that while the service offered was effective, other areas required improvement. The home in St Michael’s Road

was looking after 25 elderly guests at the time. The CQC noted that while resi-

dents told them they had no com- plaints and would speak to staff if they had, inspectors felt “staffwere not always considerate and re- spectful when talking to people”. They recognised that people felt

safe, noting: “People received their medicines safely and when they needed them. However, staff did not consistently follow safe practice around administering and record- ing medicines given to people.” The CQC also referred to per-

sonal development practices, say- ing: “People are not encouraged to participate in activities that take place and activities are not specific to meet people’s needs.” Abbeyrose has also been asked to improve its systems to assess, mon- itor and improve the quality of the service it provides to guests and to implement quality assurance au- dits and ensure they are completed.

downsmail.co.uk

Two guilty of killing man found dead in flat

TWO people who left a 69-year-old man for dead at his home in Maidstone have been jailed for life.

John Birney’s body was discov-

ered under a curtain in his flat in Rocky Hill Terrace, on Monday, June 8, 2015. He had multiple stab wounds to

his head and was thought to have been dead for some time. Allison Tomlin (48), of no fixed address, and John Barham (25), of Quarry Road, Maidstone, were ar- rested on suspicion of Mr Birney’s murder later that sameweek but de- nied any involvement. However, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court was unanimous in finding the pair guilty at the end of a seven-week trial. Both were sentenced to life im- prisonmentwhen they appeared be- fore Judge Philip Statman. Barham will serve a minimum of 18 years and Tomlin a minimum of 16 years before being eligible for parole. The court heard how Mr Birney’s

body was discovered by two em- ployees at the flats where he lived after a neighbour said she had not seen him for some time. Officerswent to the flat and found

Trees to help cut pollution

TWO dozen trees have been planted at one of Maidstone’s pollution hotspots to create a blaze of colour and improve air quality. LibDemCllr Brian Clark used funds fromhis devolved budget to buy and

plant 24 trees on Sutton Road, near the Wheatsheaf junction, acknowl- edged as one of the town’s worst loca- tions for fume-fuelled air pollution. Cllr Clark worked

with county council officers to choose a varied selection of trees including birch, rowan, hornbeam and hawthorn. He said: “These will

a blood-stained knife lying next to him and another blade beneath the sofa bed on which he was lying. A dark-coloured coat belt was tied

tightly John Birney

around his left wrist. It was quickly established that Barham had vis- ited Mr Birney’s flat at about the time of his death, and that

Tomlin had also been seen with him on more than one occasion. Following their arrests, forensic

tests concluded that the victim’s bloodwas on a pair of jeans belong- ing to Barham and that Tomlin’s DNAwas found on both knives and various other items in the flat. The belt tied aroundMrBirney’s wrist is believed to have come from her coat.

Barham was initially released without charge but was re-arrested after making a number of comments

to people in Maidstone that he had got away with murder. Senior investigating officer In- spector Lee Whitehead, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Direc- torate, said: “We may never know the truth behind why Allison Tom- lin and John Barham did what they did to John Birney, but it was clear to the jury that they intended to kill him.

“Whatever the reason, there can

be no doubt that this was a vicious attack and that Mr Birney suffered as a result. Only Tomlin and Barham know exactly how long his body had been left there before it was discovered. “I would like to pay tribute to my officers who worked tirelessly to gather evidence against them to en- sure bothwere brought to trial, even after Barham had initially been re- leased without charge. “He and Tomlin are clearly very dangerous individuals and can look forward to spending a lengthy pe- riod of time behind bars for their callous actions.”

Volunteers needed to befriend youngsters

A MAIDSTONE-based charity is seeking volunteers to befriend young people in care. More than 40 youngsters in Kent

KCC landscape officers Aubrey Furner, Lucy Lee, Cllr Brian Clark and contractorWayne Francis

reduce pollution and add colour along the A274 corridor in verges which had until recently been under threat of removal.” The trees are on verges between Mangravet Avenue and Maidstone cemetery, which were at risk of being removed to create a bus lane.

Home saved by smoke alarm

ASHEPWAYresident has her smoke alarms to thank for alerting her to a fire in her home. Sharon Pollard (53) was down-

stairs at her Middlesex Road home when the alarmswent off. She said: “I could see smoke up-

stairs. I shut the doors, turned off the electricity and dialled 999.” Crews put out the fire and cleared smoke from the building. It is

30 Maidstone Town March 2016

thought the fire was caused by an electric heater in the bedroom. Mrs Pollard said: “Without the

alarms I dread to think what might have happened." Maidstone watch manager Chris Puxted said:“With such earlywarn- ing, we were able to tackle the fire before it could cause severe damage. Residents should take extra care when using portable heaters.”

and Medway are currently in need of an “independent visitor” to help make a real difference in their lives. The award-winning Young Lives Foundation, in College Road, pro- vides the children’s rights and ad- vocacy service for all young people entitled to receive support from the region’s specialist children’s serv- ices.

The young people referred for an independent visitor may be in fos- ter homes or residential care. Advocates sit with young people

at important meetings, speak on their behalf or encourage and en- able them to speak for themselves. Befrienders also share social ac- tivities with their young person, assist with problems and concerns, give advice and are there to listen. At the launch of the National Standards for IndependentVisitors Services in London, itwas revealed that there are 1,000 children na- tionwide on waiting lists for vol- unteer independent visitors.

Research shows the huge bene-

fits independent visitors have on young people and how they are often the only consistent adult in a young person’s life. This is especially the case for

young people who live a long way from their families and for unac- companied youngsters seeking asylum. Janine Batt, communications manager for the Young Lives Foun- dation, said: “Our independent visitors are volunteerswhowant to make a difference to the lives of young people. “Befriending is the incredibly re-

warding role of an independent visitor that involves visiting, ad- vising and befriending a young person in care, taking a long-term interest in theirwell-being and de- velopment.” Volunteers are asked to maintain contact by visiting the young per- son at least twice a month and hav- ing regular telephone contact for a minimum period of two years. To find out more about how you

can become an independent visitor with YLF, go to ylf.org.uk/get-in- volved/volunteers/befriending/

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