News


downsmail.co.uk Author Ida’s Italian love story


MAIDSTONE author Ida Maddalena has published a new book which was inspired by a family tale she heard as a child from her mother.


The book, called “An Italian Love Story”, is the third in a biographi- cal series which 82-year-old Ida, of College Road, began when she re- tired from a nursing career. In her first book, entitled “Monte Cassino to Maidstone”, Ida wrote about her early life during World War II. As a child, she lived near the


scene of one of the war’s fiercest battles, then came to England 60 years ago. She became a nurse, working at Pembury and Linton Hospitals, and eventually founded her own nursing home in Ton- bridge Road, Maidstone. Her second work, “A Young


Girl’s Dream”, was a romantic novel set near the mountain of


Cessena in southern Italy and loosely based on incidents in her life. In her latest book, Ida has written


a traditional love story, based on her family history, learned at her mother’s knee. It is set in the early 20th century and tells of the poverty and deprivation of unified Italy through the lives of one fam- ily, and draws on the story of how her mother rebelled to marry the man she had fallen in love with. The story begins as Renato re-


turns to his family from America where he had lived and worked for 10 years, along with many other Italians whowere looking for a bet- ter life. He already had a wife and two sons and his daughter, An-


gelina, was born after his return. He had worked hard and used


his savings to buy a farm, eventu- ally becoming a figure of authority in the area, offering villagers tem- porary work. Ida said: “Renato is a man of


strong tradition with a purpose, to see his children secure in their fu- ture.


“However, things do not go to


plan. The story begins as a slow simmer and reaches boiling point when Renato becomes suspicious about Angelina’s behaviour. There are secrets that threaten to divide the family.” Copies are available from Ama-


zon or from the author on 01622 662224.


Author IdaMaddalena Man jailed for Go without a smartphone for 24 hours


8-week spree A CAR thief who went on a crime spree lastingweeks has been sent to prison for eight months. Thomas William Levey (23) was sentenced at Medway Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving otherwise than in accor- dance with a licence, driving with- out insurance, making off without payment, three counts of shoplifting, three counts of theft of a pedal cycle and two counts of handling stolen goods. On March 8, 2017, Levey, of Bell


Road, Maidstone, took a Peugeot without the owner’s consent and drove it in Ashford Road, Bearsted, otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without insurance. He also drove off without paying


for petrol worth £29.57 from a serv- ice station in Ashford Road. Levey also admitted that:


 On March 11, he handled two stolen bank cards and another three bank cards stolen in another offence.  On March 15, he stole a bicycle worth £350 from a school in Barton Road, Maidstone.  On March 23, he stole a bicycle worth £502.96 from the same school.  On April 3, he stole meat and al- cohol worth £100 from a shop in Loose Road, Maidstone.  On April 5, he stole beer worth £10.38 from a service station in St Saviour’s Road, Maidstone.  On April 20, he stole a biycle worth £245 from King Street, Maid- stone.  On April 21, he stole drink worth £5 from the service station. Magistrates sentenced Levey to


240 days in prison.Hemust also pay £1,212 compensation.


28 Malling June 2017


IMAGINE a day without a smart phone or tablet. Could you cope for 24 hours without social media and the web in the palm of your hand? . Would you be prepared to spend


the time with your family instead? National Unplugging Day is


promoting that notion on June 24 and the Kent Life Heritage Farm at Sandling, near Maidstone, is supporting the initiative. Kent Life general manager


Natalie Cox said:. “National Unplugging Day is a day where everyone should break free from technology to re-connect with themselves and those they love.”


Long-haired mugger hunt


A TEENAGE girl has been robbed by a long-haired man with a limp in Maidstone near a recreation ground. The girl is reported to have


been approached by a man who then took £10 out of her purse as shewalked in Elmstone Lane be- tween 6.30pm and 6.45pm on Monday, May 15, 2017. According to police, the inci-


dent took place at the entrance gates to the Gatland Recreation Ground and the man was last seen running into the park in the


direction of Gatland Lane. The man is said to be white,


and between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins tall, in his 40s and with long light grey/blonde hair. Hewas alsowearing black jog-


ging bottoms, which were ripped at the knee, and a grey T- shirt. It is believed he walked with a limp. Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting YY/12164/17, or call Kent Crimestoppers, anony- mously, on 0800 555111.


Advice on beating cyber crime WEB advice is now available to help Kent companies beat cyber crimi- nals, following the recent computer attack on the NHS and the global business community. The Federation of Small Businesses says two-thirds of its members


have been the victim of cyber-attacks, on at least four occasions, on av- erage; something that has cost the company almost £3,000. Search for www.kent.gov.uk/cybercrime.


Merc driver’s


32-month ban A WOMAN driver was caught at the wheel of her Mercedes at nearly four times the legal drink-drive limit.


Emma Blake was sentenced at


Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to drink driving. OnApril 13, 2017, the 25-year-old,


of Hareplain Road, Biddenden, drove a Mercedes in Detling Hill, Maidstone, and gave a breath test of 137mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. Magistrates sentenced her to 84


days in prison, suspended for 12 months, banned her from driving for 32 months and ordered her to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. She must also pay £85 costs and a £115 victim sur- charge.


Disqualification can be reduced by


244 days if she completes a course approved by the secretary of state.


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