downsmail.co.uk
MEP denies role in Ukip fraud
FORMER Kent Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson has angrily denied she was complicit in a fraud committed by one of her officials. Christine Hewitt (55) admitted in
court she inflated a £950 dinner to £3,000 but claimed Mrs Atkinson knew of the scam. But the Euro-MP – now an inde- pendent – said that Hewitt’s assertions were “simply not true”. Her former aide,
of Kings Hill, re- ceived a four- month suspended sentence at Canter- bury Crown Court and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community work. In a statement after Hewitt’s con- viction,MrsAtkinson said: “The case involved Christine’s acquiring from TheHoypub (in Thanet) a falsely-in- flated invoice supposedly to cover the cost of a sponsored event. “Christine’s barrister attempted to mitigate her punishment by blaming me as someone who was ‘aware of and instrumental in arranging’ the
Janice Atkinson
fraud. This tactic of trying to shift on to me the blame for a crime which Christine had already admitted in courtwas made publicly. What they said aboutmewas simply not true.” The event at The Hoy was meant
to encourage more women into pol- itics. But the court heard pub manager
David Goulding became uneasy as Hewitt suggested the invoice price should be increased and a premium cost be added to a lunch. The inflated bill would be claimed
from the pan-European Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe, and its foundation The Initiative for Direct Democracy in Europe. MrsAtkinson insisted she did not
tell Hewitt to obtain an inflated in- voice from the pub and was un- aware the defendant had done so. The MEPwas expelled from Ukip
when the scandal erupted in a na- tional tabloid newspaper sting. Mrs Atkinson’s statement added:
"Her actions led to my expulsion from Ukip and to my becoming the subject of a police investigation – an investigation which cleared me of any wrongdoing whatsoever."
Minibus will benefit elderly
MAIDSTONE group Involve Kent has taken delivery of a new minibus to help the elderly in the town, courtesy of the Department of Transport. But the vehicle, which will be used to take older people shopping, for
days out and other transport needs, presented just one problem – where to park it in Maidstone? Fortunately, construction firm Gallagher stepped up and made space
for the 17-seat Peugeot Boxer, which is wheelchair accessible. It will operate out of Involve’s new hub in The Mall shopping centre. Involve’s Older People’s service is now looking for extra drivers and
volunteers to help in their office – call 01622 677337. To find out how the service can help you, visit
involvekent.org.uk, email
iop@involvekent.org.uk, or call 01622 235833.
Crash woman is cut from car
AWOMANwas cut from her car after a crash close to a Maidstone rail- way station. The incident on Station Approach at MaidstoneWest just before 4pm
on September 6 also involved a van and a third vehicle. Firefighters had to free the woman, said to be aged in her 40s. She is thought to have neck injuries which were not life-threatening. Police closed the road and diverted traffic into the Broadway.
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