News


Businessman on child sex charge


A BUSINESSMAN has been charged with child sex grooming after an undercover sting in Mote Park by a vigilante group. Christopher Williams (49), of Goudhurst Road, Cranbrook, has been charged with attempting to meet a child following grooming. Mr Williams, who is understood


to have business interests in the Headcorn area, appeared before magistrates on April 4. The sting was carried out by a citizens' action group, The Hunted One, which tar- gets alleged paedophiles. Another man, Peter Allan (62), of Sittingbourne, appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday, April 3, having been charged with arranging or facilitat- ing the commission of a child sex of- fence. Hewas remanded in custody and is due to appear before Maid- stone Crown Court on May 1. The Hunted One posted videos of


the moments they confronted the men. However, police warned against direct action against alleged paedophiles because it may com- promise undercover operations or


lead to other crimes. Detective Inspector Rob Chitham


of Kent Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: "Revealing the identity of alleged paedophiles online, usually on social networking sites, often on the basis of little or in- correct information, frequently leads to suspects being threatened and can lead to other incidents such as criminal damage and burglary. "This could divert police resources


away from safeguarding child vic- tims and other crimes, whilst inves- tigating the secondary incidents." Anyone with information or con-


cerns about online grooming should call Kent Police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you think a child is at immediate risk of harm, call 999. DI Chitham said: "Information


for children and victims of groom- ing can be found at www.faceup2it.org. For further in- formation, contact the Child Ex- ploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) by visiting www.ceop.police.uk."


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downsmail.co.uk Book launch for hospice


A BOOK launch byWateringbury author Jennifer Button has raised £100 for the Heart of Kent Hospice. Jennifer, who has written several plays for amateur dramatic groups in


the area, turned to fiction in 2010 and has since produced four novels. Her latest book – Rose Remembered – was unveiled at a launch at


Waterstones in FremlinWalk, Maidstone, where Jennifer donated a percentage from all copies sold on the night to the memory of her friend, Mairead Atkins, who did a lot of work for Heart of Kent Hospice before sadly dying from cancer in February, 2014. Rose Remembered is


the tale of a young woman born in a squalid basement in Hackney, nine years before the outbreak ofWorldWar I. The heroine, Rose


Grubb, is determined to rise above the poverty and squalor that surrounds her and leaves school at the age of nine, with a phenomenal memory – and a stolen copy of A Tale of Two Cities tucked into her coat: a book that will become her manual for life. Her resolve to avenge the weakest in society is driven by a stubborn passion for justice, and her journey takes her from skivvy to barmaid, to housekeeper – and, eventually, to notoriety. Rose Remembered is available atWaterstones in Maidstone, as well as from Yalding andWateringbury post offices.


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