News
Drug dealer had Ecstasy at festival
A DEALER who targeted a Maid- stone music festival to peddle Ec- stasy tablets has been sentenced to more than two years in prison. Joe Phillips (pictured) was ar-
rested after attending The Social Fes- tival at the Kent County Show- ground, Detling, on September 10, last year. Police had been alerted to reports of suspicious be- haviour at about 8pm, after the 25-
year-old had left the event and then tried to enter a pub in Maidstone High Street. The court heard Phillips ran from
the pub after security staff went to check a bag he was carrying, which contained drugs. Officers attended and found him in a car park in Med- way Street. The bag was found in a nearby
bin. Insidewere quantities of ecstasy tablets andMDMApowder. As Phillips was being taken into custody he told officers: “I don’t knowwhyI did it. Iwas just there to
earn a quick bit of money and it sort of went wrong. I went to the pub and theywent to searchmybag, so I made a quick run.” Astrip search later revealed more
drugs in a bag strapped to his thigh. Phillips confessed that he had hid- den them there to ensure hewas able to get in to the festival. Appearing at Maidstone Crown
Court, Phillips, formerly of Birnam Square, Maidstone, admitted pos- sessingMDMA(ecstasy) with intent to supply. Hewas sentenced to two years and four months in prison and an application was made by Kent Police to seize back any criminal gains.
Detective Constable Mark New-
mansaid: “Phillips attended a music festival with the sole intention of selling drugs to anyone willing to pay the right price, with little or no thought given to the potential risk or threat of harm to those he targeted. “Ecstasy is a dangerous and un- predictable Class A drug and the courts have rightly passed a custo- dial sentence. As he serves his time behind bars, hopefully Phillips will ask himself if itwas really worth it.”
downsmail.co.uk Actress leads stage school
ACTRESS Jeylan Jacob has been appointed the new principal of a stage school in Maidstone. The 29-year-old says she intends using her creative expertise to
inspire a new generation of performers at Stagecoach Performing Arts Maidstone East. Jeylan (pictured)
trained for six years in performing arts, attending The Brit School, Doreen Bird and Arts Educational School, where she gained her masters degree in acting. After graduating, she
has worked mostly in theatre, both contemporary and classical. As well as acting, she
has always been passionate about teaching and has spent the last four years sharing her knowledge and skills as a teacher at Stagecoach. Jeylan is amum and wife and describes Stagecoach as the perfect fit
for her and her family. She said: “I am extremely excited about becoming principal and
cannot wait to get to know all the children and parents. I’m buzzing with creative ideas to build a strong syllabus that I hope will be fun, educational, stimulating and rewarding for the talented children of Stagecoach Maidstone East.” Stagecoach offers performing arts training to children aged four to 18
on Saturday at The Holmesdale School in Malling Road, Snodland. Classes run from September 16 to December 19.
Spit guards for police
MORE than 700 police officers in Kent now have added protection against being spat a. The officers and volunteers from
the Special Constabulary, have been trained in using spit guards and is- sued with them as part of their per- sonal protective equipment. Designated detention officers have also been trained. Aspokesman said: “It will only be
All aboard for pantomime fun
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone, took to the River Med- wayto launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady
were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former Easten- der Stefan Booth (Prince Charm- ing), Elizabeth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters). They were greeted by children
from the South Borough Primary School in Maidstone and members of the media. The panto runs from December
1-31. For ticket information click onto
www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
30 Maidstone October 2017
used when it is proportionate and necessary.” The spokesman said: “An officer currently has to wait up to six months if they are spat at to find out if they have been infected. In many cases they have to take medication with undesirable side-effects.” If a guard is used, the person will
be observed at all times and officers have been trained to look for signs of difficulties breathing. Assistant Chief Constable Tony
Blaker said: “Kent Police has a duty of care to protect its officers in the course of their duties and spit guards are an additional piece of equipment that will protect officers, and in some cases the public too. “There can be no excuses for spit-
ting – it is completely unacceptable behaviour. Therefore our message is simple: Don’t spit and officers won’t have to apply a guard.”
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