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Reckless driver in M20 pursuit


A “RECKLESS” M20 driver who caused £31,000 of damage to marked police vehicles and drove his car at a police officer during a high speed chase, has been jailed. Scott Flisher (25), of Elmwood


Road in Chattenden, was sent to prison for 18 months. Flisher (pictured) was seen speeding by of- ficers on the M20 in August 2016 but re- fused to stop when asked to do so – leading to a pursuit during which Flisher topped 120mph.


He even drove straight at an ar- resting officer when he had been boxed in. Flisher admitted dangerous driv-


ing, damaging/destroying prop- erty, driving without a licence and driving without insurance andwas sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. He was also disqualified from driving for 33 months and will have to take an extended re- test.


The court heard that the pursuit


began close to junction 8 of the M20 coast-bound, near Lenham, at 5.48am on Sunday,August 28. Two officers spotted Flisher


speed past them in a blue Seat Leon.


Despite showing blue lights,


Flisher increased his speed to 110mph in a bid to get away, left the motorway at junction 9, for Ashford, and drove through red lights before re-joining the M20 on the London-bound side. The pursuit continued to junction


4, with Flisher reaching speeds of 120mph at certain points and at one point driving down the hard shoul- der to avoid a rolling road block. It ended with Flisher leaving the motorway at junction 4, and hitting a roundabout. An articulated lorry had to brake to avoid him. Flisher attempted to continue driving so officers boxed him in. Once the Seat had come to a stop,


an officer approached the car to ar- rest Flisher. Flisher then rammed his way through the police cars and delib- erately drove at the PC. Detective Constable Chris Relf


said: "Flisher endangered the lives of motorists and police officers. "Therewere ample opportunities


for him to bring the pursuit to an end but instead he recklessly chose to try and escape. "Aside from the collisions with numerous police vehicles, he nar- rowly avoided an impact with a large, articulated lorry. "It is down to sheer good fortune


that no onewas seriously injured as a result of Flisher’s actions and the severity of this case is highlighted by the sentence the judge has im- posed."


Village shop closure put off


THE village shop in Hollingbourne will stay open until at least the end of September. Since store owner Christopher Rudgard announced his intention to re-


tire at the end of March, talks have been held with four interested parties but without agreement. Mr Rudgard has said he doesn’t want the shop and post office to close


and is in talks with Shula Lee to hand over his day-to-day involvement from April 1. He adds: “Shula will be


responsible for all as- pects of the daily opera- tion of the shop and I will retain a supporting financial involvement.” The arrangement will continue while the via- bility of the shop is re- viewed, with a decision expected about his likely future involvement in the autumn. However, he added: “Without more customers there is a real prospect


that the shop will have to close. Shula has a number of ideas to achieve more customer footfall and I amhopeful that the village will support her in her endeavours to keep the shop from closing.”


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