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News


downsmail.co.uk Drunk driver is back in court


A CONVICTED drink driver, who hid her shame from her family, has escaped a prison sentence after committing more motoring offences.


Stephanie Smart twice got behind


the wheel of her Ford Fiesta, months after being banned from the road. Widow Smart (50), pictured, claimed shewas visiting her sick 74- year-old mother – from Detling – whowas in TunbridgeWells Hospi- tal after suffering a stroke. She was pulled over by police in


Lower Street, Leeds, on January 7, and Smart told officers shewas dis- qualified and would not drive the vehicle again. But a blunder allowed her to re-


offend threeweeks later, as Kent Po- lice failed to seize her vehicle and Smart had it towed back to her home, where it stayed on her drive. As she had failed to tell her close


family – including her 23-year-old son who lived with her – of her con- viction for drink-driving onAugust 17, she still had full access to the car.


Drugs stashed in


a chocolate egg A HEROIN addict from Maidstone hid 10 wraps of the drug in a Kinder egg to escape capture. Shane Dawkins (55), currently serving a 12-month sentence for bur- glary offences, was given a 28-day sentence to run concurrently for pos- session.


Maidstone magistrates heard after


40 years of crime that he was on rehab in prison andwanted to start a new life in Norfolk. Dawkins, formerly of Edmett


Way, was sentenced last month at Maidstone Crown Court for receiv- ing jewellery and three burglaries at a Sussex Road house between Janu- ary 28 and February 4. He used the proceeds of crime to


pay for his habit, magistrates heard. Defending, Toby Burrough said:


“His motivation is to get clean and prove this to his partner, then go to Norfolk with her and be away from his drug friends in Maidstone.” Dawkins was searched by police


in EdmettsWay at 10.30pm on No- vember 10, 2016, and found with the wraps of heroin “inside a Kinder egg in a trouser pocket,” said prosecutor Mark Kateley. Dawkins admitted possessing a


classAdrug andwas fined £115 as a victim surcharge.


Gypsy fee up


FEES for gypsy and travelling fami- lies pitched on sitesownedby Maid- stone Council are to rise. The 2.5% increase was unani- mously agreed by councillors and will come in to force from April 3.


18 Maidstone Weald April 2017 Defending, Toby Burrough said


Smart lived with her son who was “financially reckless” and the toll of taking taxis – asLeedswas “fairly re- mote” – made her decide to drive. “She was shocked by her August conviction. She was too proud or embarrassed to mention it to her family. “Her mother was not well after a


On January 30, she was stopped


by a police patrol in Penfold Hill, Leeds. It was then she finally told her family of her crimes. Smart, a hospital laboratory tech-


nician, of Wykeham Grove, Leeds, admitted at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on March 31 two counts of driving while disqualified, and two of having no insurance.


stroke inNovember and shewas ad- mitted to hospital in January when her condition worsened. “Mrs Smart had not visited her mother for a while and was suffer- ing psychological issues as her hus- band had died athomeaged 49 from a stroke some years earlier. “On January 7, she felt an over- whelming desire to see her mother. She looked at the bus timetable and it would have taken a couple of hours to get to Tunbridge Wells.


Meanwhile, her car was on her drive.


“When she was stopped she ad-


mitted to police that she shouldn’t be driving, but they did not seize the vehicle and allowed her to collect it. On January 30, she decided to go back to the hospital, using her car. After being pulled over this time, the car was seized, and it is now stored at her sister’s house.” Mr Burrough also said Smartwas assaulted while in TunbridgeWells on January 30 and suffered concus- sion which had affected her work – and her decision-making. Smartwas given a 90-day jail sen-


tence, suspended for 12 months. She walked free from court but could go to prison if she reoffends in this time. Magistrates fined her £200, in- cluding a £115 victim surcharge, and gave her until May 31 to pay.


Theft charges


KENT police officers investigating two burglaries at the same address in Maidstone have charged a man. A property in Graveney Road


was reported to have been burgled on both March 12 and 13. Items in- cluding bank cards were said to have been stolen. Michael Scott (45), ofWallis Oaks


Avenue, Maidstone, was arrested and has now been charged with two offences of burglary and theft. Scott has also been charged with


Fans enjoy new stand


ALMOST 3,000 spectators turned out to celebrate the opening of Maidstone United's new north stand. The 1,700-capacity structure at the Springfield end of the Gallagher


Stadium was packed with fans as the Stones took on Sutton United in the National League. A club spokesman said: “It was fantastic to see such a large turnout


on the night. Theymade a lot of noise.” The stand was officially opened by Stones’ manager Jay Saunders’s son Fran, watched by his mum Hayley.


New head at homes group


THE new chief executive for Maidstone-based housing association, Gold- ing Homes, is Gary Clark. Currently operations director at mhs homes, Mr Clark, who lives in Tonbridge, has 18 years' experience in the housing sector, having held senior management positions in a number of housing associations in- cluding Moat, Peabody and Rosebery Housing Association. Mr Clark takes over the role from Peter Stringer, who is retiring. Gold-


ing Homes’ chairman, Roger Ford, said: “I would like to pay tribute to Peter Stringer for his vision and ambition in developing Golding Homes into one of the leading housing associations in Kent.”


three offences of fraud in relation to stolen bank cards, as well as a sep- arate offence of shoplifting at the Morrisons’ store in Sutton Road, Maidstone. He has been bailed to appear at Maidstone Magistrates Court on May 19.


Crash appeal


AN elderly woman has been seri- ously injured in a crash at Yalding and police are appealing for wit- nesses to come forward. The incident involving a grey


Peugeot Tepee and a black Peugeot 3008 happened at about 11.25am on March 29 in Lees Road at the junc- tion with Hampstead Lane. A statement from Kent Police


said: "An elderly woman in one of the vehicles was seriously injured and taken hospital. Ambulance crews also treated other people for minor injuries.” Anyone who witnessed the crime


or events leading up to it should call the appeal line on 01622 798538 (reference KH/DW/65/17). Alterna- tively email sciu.td@kent.pnn.po- lice.uk.


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