downsmail.co.uk


MissingGloria, 81, is found in back garden


THE body of missing Holling- bourne woman Gloria Stringer was found in a garden inWilling- ton Street late lastmonth. Gloria (81) vanished on New


Year’sDay, sparking a huge search. But a body was discovered on


Good Friday, and officers say they are no longer searching for her.Her family,who set up a Facebook page to help find her, were informed of the discovery in the Willington Street garden. It is understood that she was identified from a watch and a hospitalwrist-band. An inquest into her death will be


held in July. Apolice spokesman said over the


Easter bank holiday: “A search for an 81-year-old woman reported missing fromHollingbourne in Jan- uary has led to the recovery of a body. “At 11.55amon Friday,March 30,


a woman’s body was found…For- mal identification has not yet taken place, however the next of kin of the missing woman have been in-


Leeds resident Gloria Stringer


formed. The death is currently being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. “A report will now be prepared


for the coroner.” Concerted


searches were


launched as StormEleanor swept in on January 2, when police combed the banks of the River Len in Old


Mill Lane and volunteers fromKent Search and Rescue scoured fields. Police officers, who have been


praised for the efforts they put in to try and find Gloria, went door to door, asking residents to check their sheds and outbuildings in caseGlo- ria had taken refuge there. The searches concentrated on Leeds, Otham,Kingswood, Langley,Chart Sutton, Downswood and near Leeds Castle. A search helicopter was also de-


ployed, but as the days slipped by, hope faded that shewould be found alive. Gloria was known in the Hollingbourne and Leeds areas and was thought to be physically fit but suffering from episodes of confu- sion. From time to time she would be


seen at jumble sales in Leeds. A resident who knew her said:


“We hoped that she’d be found alive somewhere, but as time went on, it was pretty obvious it wasn’t going to be good news.At least now her family can dealwith their loss.”


News Two charged


over theft bid TWOmen fromCoventry have been charged in connection with at- tempted theft from a Maidstone hardware store. Officers were called at 3.51pmon


Thursday, April 5, following a re- port that the two men were acting suspiciously in the B&Q store in Barker Road. Patrolswent to the scene and, after


stopping a car in Hart Street, ar- rested 43-year-old Richard Camp- bell andNeil Cunningham(42). Theywere both later chargedwith


attempted theft and were bailed to appear before Maidstone Magis- trates’Court onWednesday,May 2.


Booze jobs risk THE owners of the chain Bargain Booze which has a store in Maid- stone, is facing administration. About 2,500 jobs are feared to be


at risk nationally. It is the latest big name retailer to come to grief in re- centmonths, alongsideMaplin and Toys RUs. Its parent company, Conviviality,


had issued a string of profit warn- ings andthe chief executive stepped down. The stores are trading nor- mally while administrators are sought.


Maidstone May 2018


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