News Speedshame


DRIVERS in Kent racked up the fourth highest number of speeding tickets in England in 2017. A total of 53,590 speeding of-


fenceswere recorded in the county last year, including one driverwho was clocked at 150mph,whichwas the second-fastest in thewholeUK. Motorists often fall foul of speed


cameras on theM20 throughMaid- stone,which contributes heavily to the total in the county, not least in the variable speed limit area be- tween J6 and J7 on the coastbound stretch. The statistics were revealed by


car leasing specialists UK Carline, who submitted requests under freedomof information legislation to the UK’s police forces. Kent’s total of tickets is almost a


third less than the biggest speeding hotspot in the country, with more than 142,000 offences recorded by West Yorkshire Police last year, with Surrey (62,623) andWestMer- cia (62,503) the only higher ones in England, although Dundee with 60,465 and North Wales with 57,224 pushing the county down to sixth overall in the UK.


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.


Duster charge


A MAN has been arrested after being caught driving in a Maid- stone village with two knives and a knuckle duster. The 45-year-old was arrested on


suspicion of money laundering and possession of an offensive weapon in Laddingford. Officerswere on patrol in the vil-


lage at around 10.20amon Tuesday January 16 when they stopped a Mercedes being driven by theman, who police describe as “local”. He was arrested when officers


found him to be in possession of a quantity of cash and theweapons. He was subsequently released under investigation.


26


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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-


Maidstone Weald February 2018 1 New Street Farm


669 Loose Road, Maidstone ME15 9UX


Tel. 01622 746688


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.


Chilmington Green Road Great Chart, Ashford TN23 3DL


Tel. 01233 650746 We have ample free parking on both sites www.albany-funerals.co.uk


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.


Panto alternative proves to be a success Celebrating lives There is such a thing as a 'good' funeral and celebration of


someone's life. Sadly, too few people experience it. We are passionate that people in the Kent area have this, which is


why I started Albany Funerals - I wanted to make sure a safe place existed where a family's wishes take priority. At a time when it's extremely difficult to think clearly, our


expertise is in helping you to know all the options available to you, so that the funeral is the very best it can be for your loved one.


Award Winning


We are extremely proud to have been recognised nationally by the Good Funeral Awards and the Natwest Everywoman


Awards for exceptional service. Affordable


Transparent prices and


campaigning to end funeral poverty as a member of Fair Funerals.


Independent


Being independent of the big chains means we can offer the best care, value and ethics without compromise.


Forward Thinking Offering traditional, modern


and low-cost funerals and the best of traditional practice combined with fresh thinking.


Serving the whole of Kent We cover the whole county and beyond. Maidstone Weald February 2018 27


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