News


Speedshame asdrivers rack upthe tickets


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.


downsmail.co.uk


‘NightWatcher’ stakes out prey before aacks


A FORMER soldier with special- ist surveillance skills is suspected of being behind a series of terrify- ing and violent burglaries, which has earned him the nickname “NightWatcher”. One of his seven targets was in


Maidstone a year ago and he is be- lieved to have already stolen £1m worth of property. A major police operation is now


under way to apprehend the pow- erfully-builtman,who used a sawn- off shotgun in each of the seven raids across the south east. The detective heading the hunt


told BBC’sRadio 4 that the assailant appears to have military training and advanced surveillance skills where he can watch his victims for days, if notweeks, before launching his attack. Operation Prometheus is being


led by Surrey Police, but Detective Inspector Dee Fielding, leading the investigation, said officers at Kent Police first linked the raids. She said: “It was Kent Police that had put out the original information


to other forces and realised there had been similar offences across the country. Each is being individually investigated by the forces.” Whatmight give himaway is the


fact he is away from home for pro- tracted periods and has an income that does not match his circum- stances. DI Fielding added: “He has


worked quickly and appears to have a knowledge of who is in the home at the time of each attack, the location of safes, and the layout of the property.


“We have evidence that he was


watching several of the houses prior to the burglaries, sometimes for weeks at a time.” He is described as white with a


stocky build and around 6ft tall. He has a southern accent. He has also struck in Sevenoaks,


Sussex, Surrey and Berkshire. Peoplewho think theymay know


the man can call 101, mentioning Operation Prometheus, email Op- Prometheus@surrey.pnn.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers, anony- mously, on 0800 555 111.


Thinking of renting, selling or changing agent this winter?


Contact us today.


Martin & Co Maidstone 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • ME14 1PA maidstone@martinco.com


20 Maidstone March 2018


01622 690290 maidstone.martinco.com


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