News


Rent collector admits fraud


Town Talk Family history


A LETTING agent who stole money fromtenants to fuel a gam- bling addiction has been jailed. LeeGrace (42) stole about £45,000


Croydon, was sentenced to 20 monthswhenhe appearedatMaid- stone Crown Court inOctober. He began his role as a lettings


from customers in Kings Hill over the course of 15months. Grace, formerly of Clyde Road,


search surprise A SNODLAND charity has re- ceived an unexpected donation of £250 from a woman in Durham re- searching her family tree. The Godden Charity Trust has


been going since 1661, founded by Edward Godden to help boys going into an apprenticeship and girls going into service. It operates in Snodland and Bir-


manager in the area in late 2014, employedto collect rental fees from customers and large cash deposits on properties. But instead of paying the funds


to his bosses and landlords, he usedthemoney to gamblebothon- line and in betting shops. Grace disguised his criminal ac-


ling and is open to school leavers under the age of 21 who have lived there for five years and wish to continue with their education. Trust secretary Jerry Hayes said:


tivityuntil the fraudwasuncovered in February 2016 after a landlord raised concerns that he had not re- ceived any rent. Itwas then discov- eredthat asmanyas 44 tenantswere likely to have been affected. Grace admitted fraud and an-


other charge of transferring crimi- nal property contrary to the Proceeds of CrimeAct 2002. DCCraigMalthouse said: “Grace


didn’t stumble into criminality by chance.He is a repeat offender and took this job knowing it would give him the opportunity to steal and defraud.”


“The benefactor is a lady from Durham who, apart from giving her maiden name as Godden, wishes to remain anonymous. “It would be an understatement,


I think, to say she was surprised to find the charity was still going after 356 years – ‘thrilled’ or ‘ecstatic’ might be better terms. She made a donation of £250 which was di- vided between two recent suc- cessful applicants.” The main source of income is


from a sheep farm in the Romney Marsh, bought by Mr Godden which brings in £920 a year. The trustees meet once a year


to award grants and applications can be sent to Jerry Hayes at 2 Dowling Close, Snodland, ME6 5PF.


downsmail.co.uk


Death drink-driver sent to prison for five years


A DRUNK who killed a man while driving the wrong way on the M20 motorway has been sent to prison for five years. Christopher Clement (37) was


twice the legal alcohol limit follow- ing a head-on collision onMarch 4 this year. He was behind the wheel of a


SNODLAND’S newest estate agency, CWB Property in Holbor- ough Road, has been shortlisted for the Community Champion of the year at the annual Negotiator Awards. The company was formed in No-


Toyota Corolla, when shortly after 3.00am the car was reported to have been seen heading in the wrong direction on the London bound carriageway. It later hit a VWTouareg, which


had been travelling in the correct direction at a location between junctions three and four. Mohammed Chowdhury, who


was a passenger travelling with Clement, died at the scene. Blood tests show Clement had


vember 2015 by Warren Bowman and CraigWalker “with a conscious effort to not only provide the com- munity with a first rate service but to support local charities, clubs, schools and athletes”. And the agency has now been nominated for a prize at the na- tional awards, which are being held at the London Hilton on Tuesday, October 31. “These are the most prestigious


169mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – the legal limit is 80 mil- ligrams. Traces of cannabis were also detected in his blood and al- though levels were below the legal limit he admitted to consuming the drug prior to driving. Clement, of Orpington, was charged with causing death by


and popular awards in residential property in the country with more entrants and more winners than any other scheme in this sector,” said Warren Bowman. “This year the awards are to be hosted by Jimmy Carr at a black tie event in central London.” The office opened on March 5,


2016, with a fund-raising day for the Heart of Kent Hospice charity.


Agency is riding high on founding principles


Christopher Clement, below, was jailed for three years afterM20 madness


d a n g e r o u s driving and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court. Hewas


sen-


tenced to five years and four


CWB Property’s Warren Bowman with Zoe Oakwell and Ashley Buckland


There have been Easter egg hunts, letters from Santa, school competi- tions, a Valentine’s competition, there is about to be Halloween fun and Santa is back at Christmas! CWB also sponsors Townsend


months in prison. He was also dis- qualified from driving for five years and eight months and will have to take an extended retest to drive again. PCChrisOliver-Jones ofKent Po-


lice’s Serious Collision Investiga- tion Unit, said: “Christopher Clement should never have been behind thewheel of a car.


"After the collision, witnesses


told us he wasn’t aware he had been driving thewrongway on the motorway. “Clement’s reckless actions have


resulted in the death of a young manwho had hiswhole life in front of him. I hope today's outcome pro- vides some comfort to his family. “I hope this sentence also serves


Hook Bowls Club, providing all members with shirts, and is sup- porting local martial artist Adam Watts, who is competing in the British National Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition later this year.


as a warning to anyone who is under the influence of alcohol and is considering getting behind the wheel. It simply isn’t worth the risk.Mistakes like this cost lives. I’d like to reassure the public that we will do everything within our power to bring offenders to justice."


Local news for Snodland and Halling


downsmail.co.uk


Doorstep rogue trader threat to local people


KENT Police have issued crime prevention advice after reports of rogue traders intheMaidstone area – including one where £1,000 was demanded for garden work a resi- dent did notwant done. Incidents have been reported in


across the borough in recent weeks of uninvitedtradesmen – some even startingworkwithout permission. The first incident happened at


9.20am on Friday October 6 when twomen are reportedto have visited an address in ParkWay, Coxheath, and one of themstarted to clear the gutters without asking if they wanted thework completed. The residents decided to pay as


they had already started thework. Then, onMonday October 9, four


men visited an address in High Street, Lenham, and startedwork in the garden that the occupier did not want done. Themen thendemanded£1,000 in


cash, andthewoman left to go to the bank. But no money was subse- quently paid and the men left the scene in a yellow van with a white cab.One of the fourwas saidto have


aWelsh accent, another a foreign ac- cent and the other two could not speak English. Finally, at around2.45pmonTues-


day, October 10, Kent Police re- ceived reports of twomen knocking on doors in Oxford Gardens, Shep- way, offering to check doors and windows to see if they needed up- grading. Both were described as white, in


their late 20s to early 30s with large builds.Onehadlight gingerhair and the other short dark hair. The Kent Police statement added: “For advice and information,mem-


bers of the public should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506, or visit www.citi- zensadvice.org.uk. “Kent County Council Trading


Standards recommends checka- trade.com, online or call 0333 0146 190, for reputable Kent traders.” Advice fordealingwithunwanted


doorstep callers: •Do notdealwithdoorstepcallers


offeringwork on your home or gar- den and never pay in cash •Check that the tradesperson is


fromthe company they say they are from •Ask for quotes inwriting •Ring more than three traders to


get a feel for an average price for the job


•Remember traders must give


youwritten notice of your right to 14 days cancellation when agreeing to do work at your home, including work gained froma cold call •If you believe adoorstep crime is


happening or about to happen call the police on 101 or 999 in an emer- gency


News Concern lights


REPRESENTATIVES from West MallingAgeConcernwill take cen- tre stage when the town’s Christ- mas lights are switched on. The annual Christmas event will


take place on Saturday, November 19. Entertainment will be in the High Street from noon, with ice skating, a balloon race, real rein- deer, Santa’s grotto and trampolin- ing all on offer. The lightswill then go on at 5pm.


The event has been organised by West Malling Chamber of Com- merce.


Meeting place


WOULDyou like tomeet newpeo- ple and have a chat over coffee and cake? Open Door in Snodland is now


so successful it is on each first and third Mondays of the month from 10am to noon in Christ Church Community Hall, Malling Road. Organisers say people who attend can be given information about local groups theymay be interested in and places where they can get help or information on local serv- ices.


•A Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday, November 18 at the hall. Stalls include crafts, cards, a raffle, cakes, Christmas gifts, books and refreshments.


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