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. He was bailed on condition he stays at his home address and will appear at Maidstone Crown Court at a later date. The stingwas carried out by a cit-
izens' action group, The Hunted One, which targets alleged pae- dophiles. Another man, Peter Allan (62), of Sittingbourne, appeared be- foreMedway 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 Maidstone 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 Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you think a child is at immediate risk of harm, call 999. DI Chitham said: "Information for victims of grooming can be found at
www.faceup2it.org or visit by visit- ing
www.ceop.police.uk."
downsmail.co.uk Book launch for hospice
A BOOK launch by 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. TheWateringbury-based writer’s latest book – Rose Remembered –
was unveiled at a launch atWaterstones 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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12 Maidstone May 2017
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