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downsmail.co.uk PE teacher’s


court ordeal A FORMER head of PE at Maidstone Grammar School has been cleared of stealing property valued at £25,000 from the school. Steve Restarick (44) from Sutton Road, Maidstone, was accused of using the school’s resources, including the photo- copying paper and kit for his own business, Premier Foot- ball School (PFS). He ran the business in tan-


dem with his teaching at the Barton Road school, coaching youngsters in how to play foot- ball.


The former professional footballer and football coach was cleared of five charges by a jury at the Inner London Crown Court at the end of a two-week trial. The father of three left the school to work at St Simon Stock after the allegations sur- faced and now works for a school in London.


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Joe gets on his bike to raise cash for charity


A YALDING coach driver has abandoned his bus for a bike in a bid to get fighting fit. JoeWestgate admits hewas some-


thing of a couch potato – but now he’s getting in trim after his wife’s diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis. Amy is the daughter ofWest Far-


leigh parish councillor Larry John- son. Like Joe, Larry and his wife Brenda were rocked to learn their daughter had such a debilitating dis- ease at the age of only 33. Rheumatoid arthritis is an incur-


able autoimmune disease, but drugs can alleviate the symptoms. At a recent consultation, the cou-


plewere devastated to learn that, de- spite medication, the condition had already damaged Amy’s bones. As well as inflamed joints, Amy


suffers from constant fatigue aswell as anxiety and depression, all while caring for the couple’s one-year old son, Noah. Amyfirst showed signs of the ill-


ness at Noah’s Christening, a year ago. She has had to give up her ca- reer as a teacher and nowadays is happy if she can get up and


JoeWestgate with his wife Amy, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis


dressed. The couple have moved from Barming toYalding to be closer to Amy’s family and share a house with her brother Stuart, who is also able to help. Amy said: “Joe often works long


hours and I just can’t manage onmy own. Fortunately, I have a brilliant, supportive family.” Joe is taking part in the 2016 Pru- dential Ride London – a 100 -mile route around London and Surrey on July 31 – to raise £1,000 for the Na- tional RheumatoidArthritis Support group, but that meant getting fit. Fortunately, Chris Mollison (35),


of Larkfield, has just launched his boot camp business CYCLEmefit-


ness, and is to help Joe with his train- ing free of charge. Joe has also signed up for the 54-


mille London to Brighton ride with Cllr Johnson. Joe said: “I am sure after cycling


100 miles my joints and body will ache and hurt in places I never knew existed, but it is no comparison to the pain and hurtmywife suffers on a daily basis and the pain that we sufferwatching her hurting.” Joe would liked to hear from any-


one who would like to support him during his training or donate through his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/joewestgate.


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