News Over the limit


driver in crash A MAIDSTONE motorist who failed to stop after running into an- other vehicle has been banned from the road for nearly two years. Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court


heard how Richard James Glozier failed to stop his Nissan Micra after damaging another car, when over the drink-drive limit. Glozier admitted driving while


unfit through drink, failing to stop, the possession of cannabis and ob- structing a police officer. The charges related to an incident


in Green Road, Boughton Monchelsea, on March 9. He later obstructed an officer in Maidstone between March 9 and 10. The 48-year-old, from Haste Hill


Road, Boughton Monchelsea, was sentenced on June 16 to a driving ban of 22 months, a fine of £280, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge


Driver banned


A MAIDSTONE man who drove a Mercedes on the M20 while more than three times over the legal al- cohol limit was banned from driv- ing.


James Robert Louis Monks was sentenced on June 16 at Mid Kent Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to drink driving. The 37-year-old, of The Orchard, Maidstone, drove a Mercedes C220 on the M20, Lenham, and gave a breath test of 111mg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.


Magistrates banned Monks from driving for 24 months and ordered him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.


Boot fair total


A BOOT Fair at Headcorn Primary School on June 4 raised almost £1,000. The event attracted 70 boot stalls


and “lots of generous visitors”, said the organisers. They also thanked Trevor Matthews of the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum for helping with the preparations. The school’s next big event is the annual fireworks and bonfire at 5pm on November 5.


Beer festival


PLANS are afoot for a second Hunton Beer & Cider Festival. Hunton Village Club will host


live music, a selection of locally- produced beverages and family ac- tivities, including apple pressing and apple bobbing on Saturday, September 23. There will also be a competition for the best Hunton home-brew.


16 Maidstone Weald July 2017 Put nets away, urges RSPCA


GARDENERS and goalies are being urged to make sure their netting does not become a trap for wildlife. The RSPCA has released pictures


to remind people of the danger posed at this time of year, especially to nocturnal animals like foxes, by the tangles of nylon wire. The appeal comes as the charity


revealed that it rescued 405 trapped animals in the South East alone last year – the largest number of cases for the whole country. Most were during the summermonths, with 52 incidents in Kent. This shocking picture shows how


easily animals can get tangled in sports or garden netting, which can result in fatal injuries. Goal nets, tennis nets, pond


protectors and fruit netting are the main causes.


The RSPCA’s Llewelyn Lowen


said: “Sadly, the summer is when our officers see an increase in net rescues. If animals go unnoticed, they can really suffer. “The tight net can cut off the


blood supply to their limbs, damage bones where they have tried to escape or, worst of all, they could be strangled.” She said: “Please remove sports


nets after use and store them safely away. It could save an animal from a horrible death. Where netting can’t be removed,we recommend replacing them with metalmesh.” The RSPCA treats calls about an


animal tangled in netting as an emergency. If you see an animal tangled in netting, the RSPCA advises you do not try to free it but call them on 0300 1234 999.


downsmail.co.uk


Lorry arsonist left DNA on fuel cap


ANARSONIST whoseDNAwas detected on a fuel cap following a fire at a Maidstone lorry park has been sent to prison.


Peter Taylor started a fire which destroyed one lorry and also spread to another vehicle. Taylor (61) entered the Nil Des- perandum lorry park, off Maid- stone Road, Blue Bell Hill, at about 4.45am on February 1, 2014. He extracted diesel from the tank


of a parked lorry and used it as an accelerant to set fire to another lorry, whichwas parked next to it. The vehicle targeted was com- pletely burned out but the fire also spread to the lorry from which he had stolen the diesel. It had con- tained a number of propane gas bottles and was damaged by the heat and flames. Kent Police attended the scene


and crime scene investigators re- covered a fuel tank cap, still at- tached to one of the vehicles. Forensic tests on the item recovered


rested in May 2014, but when he was interviewed by police he de- nied any involvement. He claimed he had been at home and in bed at the time. He could not explain how his DNA had been recovered from a fuel cap. He appeared at Maidstone Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson. He was found guilty following a trial and on June 28 was sentenced to three years and three months in prison. Detective Constable Rex Dinnage


Peter Taylor


DNA which provided a match to Taylor. A second person was also be-


lieved to have been involved but currently remains unidentified. Taylor, formerly ofWarden Road, Eastchurch, Sheerness, was ar-


said: “Taylor was responsible for a fire which has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. “His actions could quite easily


have also lead to serious injuries or even the loss of life, as it was only by pure chance that the pressurised gas cylinders on one of the lorries did not explode.”


Penioner is hit


crossing road A WOMAN in her 80s was knocked down by a car after she walked out from behind a bin lorry in Boughton Monchelsea. Officers from Kent Police’s Seri-


ous Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are appealing for witnesses following the collision in the village last month. It appears she was crossing the


busy road through the village when shewas hit. A statement said: "Kent Police


were called at 9.15am on Thursday June 22, 2017, to a report of a colli- sion on the B2163 Heath Road. "A woman in her 80s is reported


to have been crossing the road be- hind a white refuse lorry, which was static facing in the direction to- wards Chart Sutton, when she was involved in a collision with a Grey Audi A4 which was travelling to- wards Linton crossroads. "The victim was taken to a Lon-


don hospital by road with injuries where she is now in a stable condi- tion.


"Following the collision, road clo-


sureswere put in place from Heath Road with the junction of Green Lane and also Gandy’s Lane." Anyone with information about


this incident is asked to call the Se- rious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538 quoting AH/138/17. Alternatively, email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.


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