News


WI play away MEMBERS of Leeds Women’s In- stitutewill be attending theWI an- nual councilmeeting in Tunbridge Wells in March when the guest speaker will be TV presenter Floella Benjamin. Baroness Benjamin OBE is best


known for her roles on Play School and Play Away but forged a suc- cessful career as a singer, author, businesswoman and campaigner. Members enjoyed a December


meeting with Gillie Taylor, who gave a demonstration of a Christ- mas craft – making T-light snow- men. At Christmas, two members were invited to attend Holling- bourne WI’s festive party while others went along to the district carol service held at theHolyCross Church in Bearsted. January’s meeting took place on


January 11 and the group is in the process of organising its next lunch clubmeal. If you would like to know more


about the Leeds WI or any of its events, contact Jane Newsome on 01622 862558 or Janet Buller on 01622 471713.


Show’s award THE teams behind the Kent County Show at Detling and its popular event centre have received an NHS award for keeping people out of hospital. The massive three-day agricul-


tural showattracts some 80,000 vis- itors and in 2017, 175were taken ill and needed medical attention. However, only nine needed to be admitted to hospital. The showground team, which


provides medical and first-aid services through St John Ambu- lance, have nowpicked up the 2017 Emergency Planning and Partner- ship Award from the Maidstone and TunbridgeWellsNHS Trust by ensuring propermedical coverwas provided.


Mondeo stolen


A MAN has been arrested on sus- picion of stealing a car from a vil- lage near Maidstone as its owner unloaded the vehicle of shopping. The FordMondeo,whichwas re-


ported stolen from an address in Hollingbourne at around 1pm on December 18, was later spotted on the London-bound carriageway of theM20. The


vehicle subsequently


smashed in to a police vehicle near the Leybourne junction and the driver left the scene on foot. A 34-year-old man,


from


Thamesmead,was arrested on sus- picion of theft of a motor vehicle and failing to stop after a collision. He remains in police custody.


4 Maidstone East February 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Pair face life in prison formurdering Razvan


TWO Maidstone men have been jailed for life for clubbing to death a homeless Romanianmanwho had been sleeping rough in Tovil. Razvan Sirbu (21) suffered mul-


tiple injuries to his head and body after being subjected to a sustained and unprovoked assault with weapons, including a cleaver. Mr Sirbu’s body was found by


dog walkers in an area of wood- land, off CaveHill, on themorning of May 7, 2017, near a tent he had been living in. Maidstone Crown Court heard


how Mr Sirbu suffered multiple skull fractures, broken facial bones and ribs. CharlieWhite andAlexMacdon-


ald, both 19, were sentenced to a minimum of 16 and 18 years re- spectively. A third defendant Jimmy Buck-


ley (20), formerly of Coxheath,will be detained indefinitely under the Mental HealthAct. CCTV at a local skate park


showedWhite burning clothing be- lieved to have been worn during the murder. Images also depicted Macdonald and Buckley appar- ently re-enacting the violence. Blood found on Macdonald’s grey coat recovered froma caravan near DovermatchedMr Sirbu’s DNA. Detectives also found details of a


conversation between White and Macdonald where White had asked himwhy he kept beatingMr Sirbu. Macdonald replied: “Cos I thought itwas funny”. White claimed that, on the day of


the murder, he planned stealing a lawnmower froma garden and car-


LEEDS Amateur Dramatic Society performed an alternative to its an- nual pantomime in early Janaury to enthusiastic audiences. Over two nights, almost 200 peo-


ple enjoyed the Twelfth Night revue of songs and readings followed in part two by a mini panto, Mr Scrooge. The cast for the revue and the


mini-pantowere: Rachel Brooke, Ca- role Burton, Alice Chapman, Tina Chapman,Mel Comins, Paul Cordier, callumDemery, Astrid Finlay, Lesley Finlay, Sue Finnis, Angus Poulter, Fe- licity Poulter,DavidHoxey, BenMan- ning,


Celestina and Otis


Meneses-Bautista, John Russell, Jane Steele, Hrisi Vuchkova and Georgia Wallace. Music, front of house and back-


AlexMacdonald, top, and CharlieWhite, bottomhave been found guilty of murdering homeless Razvan Sirbu, right


ried the cleaver for protection. White claimed itwasMr Sirbuwho attacked him and he had acted in self-defence. White admitted re- peatedly strikingMr Sirbuwith the weapon, but denied aiming any blows to his head. All three were charged with


murder and remanded in custody. Appearing before Maidstone


CrownCourtwereWhite, formerly of Quarry Road, Maidstone, and Macdonald, formerly of Regency Place, Maidstone, who both pleaded not guilty tomurderwhen the case went to trial. They were


found guilty on January 12 by a jury. Buckley was deemed unfit to plead, butwas found by the jury to be involved in the act of killingMr Sirbu. Detective Chief Inspector Tony


Pledger said: “This was an utterly senseless attack on a young man who stood little chance of protect- ing himself. “Razvan Sirbuwas subjected to a


horrific ordeal which was unpro- voked.” Mr Sirbu’s mother wept in the


public gallery as her son’s killers were sent to prison.


Big crowds for Leeds’ panto alternative Yellow lines will hopefully end a 35-year parking problemat Detling


Plea to close gap withyellowlines


RESIDENTS have urged the council to put in place a final stretch of double yellow lines to endmore than 35 years of parking problems. Aerodrome Approach and Bim-


bury Lane, Detling, have been af- fected by lorries parking in the area since 1982. Lyle Cathcart, from Stockbury


Parish Council, pleaded with Maidstone Council and Kent County Council’s recent Joint Transportation Board meeting to put lines in place to finally bring an end to the issue. But parking is only part of the


problem. Also of concern is the huge amount of litter – including human waste – being left by those who park there. Cllr Cathcart said: “There has


been a piecemeal process of im- provements – we’re nearly there, but not quite. “There has been an increase in parking enforcement there and that has made a differ- ence. “I believe that when the rest of the lines are in place, it will serve


WORK has started on a “welcome” £6.97mhous- ing development


as a deterrent. Once a few people get tickets for parking at that loca- tion, word will spread and hope- fully the lorries will stop parking there.” Somework has been done and all


that now remains is a 120-metre stretchwithout themarkings. Ann Ballard, who is the Neigh-


bourhood Watch co-ordinator for the area and lives on Bimbury Lane, said: “It’s horrendous - I don’t understand why people feel the need to leave their litter – if they’ve got space in their vehicles in the first place, then they’ve got the space to take it home or to a bin. “It is very unpleasant, especially


the humanwaste that gets left. “If they start getting tickets then,


hopefully, itwill drive themaway. “It’s also dangerous where they


park – just the other day my hus- band was nearly in an accident be- cause a lorry didn’t givewaywhere it should.” A KCC spokesman said: “The


TRO (traffic regulation order) is beingwritten andworkwill be car- ried out in the next financial year.”


Affordable homes fit the bill for


those looking to stay in Lenham. The construction of 23


homes in The Paddocks, off the Ashford Road, meets a growing need in the village for af- fordable homes, according to the parish council. The development,


dents to rent, or to buy through shared ownership. When complete, rental properties


covering


stage help was provided by: Jane Steele, David Hoxey, Rita Norris, Bernie Hughes, Kerry Demery, Shirley Lall, Sue Sinclair, Carole Bur-


ton, Linda Gallihawk, Jane New- some, LouiseMeneses-Bautista, Tina Chapman, JudyDonovan and Lesley Finlay.


82,700sq ft, is being built by West Kent Housing Association (West Kent), in partnership with Green- wood Homes Investment and is ex- pected to be finished by January next year. The landscaped sitewill comprise


four one-bed apartments and 19 two- to four-bedroomhomes, all of which will be available to local resi-


on the estate – to be called Grove Paddock –will be available through Maidstone Borough Council’s hous- ing register. The shared ownership homeswill be sold through theHelp to Buy scheme. MargoMcFarlane, LenhamParish


Council clerk, said: “We are very pleased towelcome a development thatwill cater for local peoplewish- ing to stay in the village or to start their family here.”


Relationship at b ereaking


ng point The bre very distre f legal advice. All our lawyers a


An initial fixed cost meeting for just £100 (inc V T one of our lawyers can help you see your way forrwardwa and understand your legal positiion and options.


e olving family problems. ng for


an he your lega den s out la


you see your way on


options simply


Our offices are in the centtre of Canterbury, Maidstone and Tenterden so, if you w findin


options Ma


finding out your options simply visit our website at: www


Maidstone 01622 698051 Tenterden 01580 767540


enter e


ww En an


www.whitehead-monc Wh tehead MoncWhiteheai


Monckton Limite Englland & Wales. Regiis


E14 1BL. Authorised and regu Authority under no. 608279.


DM2016 Maidstone East February 2018 5 -monckton.co.u M www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk


stered office 72 King Street, Maiidstone, Kent, gullated by the Solicitors Regulation


mit ed no 0. 8366029) r, egistered n i ds


gul -monckton.co.uk


if you want to take that first step t ebsite at


ou want to take that first step to


www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk Canterbury 01227 643266


Whitehead Monckton family lawyers can help you through this stressful and painful time.


We offer sensitive, constructive and cost effective rs are expe enced


experrienced membe


of Resolution, committed to a non-confrontational approach to res


100 (nc AT) with emberrs


downsmail.co.uk


News


ng point?


eakdown of any relationship can be essing.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25