News


downsmail.co.uk Body inwoodwasmissingman


THE body of a man found in woodland after a week-long search has been confirmed to be that of Christopher Fisher,who had disappearedwith his dog aweek earlier. The 31-year-oldwas saidto bedis-


tressed when he vanished with his beloved black and white cocker spanielMolly. Dozensofpeople joinedina search


to findMr Fisher, who was autistic, aided by volunteers from Kent Search andRescue (KSAR). They had been concentrating on


land nearDeringWoods in Pluckley after reports of a sighting. Thepublichadbeenwarnednot to


approach Mr Fisher because of his distressed state. Butonthe afternoonofFriday,Au-


gust 17, a bodywas found inwood- land near Smarden and pronounced


Drug dealer,


18, in court AN 18-year-old drug dealer who peddled his wares in Maidstone has been sent to a young offenders’ institution. Maidstone Crown Court heard that


Jaydn


Charles trav- elled from London to sell


drugs


with a street value of be- tween £1,200 and £2,400 from a flat in Brunswi ck


Street, and threw heroin out of a windowto try and avoid arrest. Officers went to the flat at about


11am on August 22 last year and found Charles with two mobile phones and a bag containing empty plastic wraps. He was ar- rested him in connection with the supply of drugs. Asearch uncovered a package in


the garden, belowthe flatwindow, containing 120 wraps of heroin. Charles’ DNA was later found on the outside of the package. Charles of Lewisham, was


charged with possession of heroin with intent to supply. He appeared at Maidstone


Crown Court on Wednesday, Au- gust 15, where he pleaded guilty andwas sentenced to one year and 10 months in a Young Offenders' Institution. District Commander, Chief In-


spectorMarkHedges said: “Iwant the message to go out that Maid- stone is not a safe place for drug dealers from outside Kent to be- come established.”


8


dead at the scene. The area was attended by para-


medics andofficers fromKentPolice. We understand that Mr Fisher’s


family has been informed. His death is not being treated as


suspicious and a reportwill be com- pleted for the coroner. Friends described Mr Fisher as a


“kindandgentle” and“soft-natured” man,whohada talent forwoodwork andmaking gifts for people. One said: “It is such a tragedy and


everyone who knew him has been shocked and saddened. “He was a very nice young man, and no onewould have known that


therewere such serious problems in his life.Yourheart justgoesout tothe poorman’s family.Theymust be ab- solutely in bits about this.” KSARstarteda searchofwoodson


the dayMr Fisherwentmissing and over the whole search period, about 150 people joined the hunt. The charity’s volunteers were


askedtogotoDeringWoods after re- ports of aman shouting. KSAR was mobilised when


Hollingbourne woman Gloria StringerwentmissinginJanuary.De- spite an extensive search for her in villages andopenfarmland,herbody was not discovered untilMarch.


Park sculpturemarks ash disease


TWO 10m tree sculptures, pierced with over 10,000 arrows, are to be installed in White Horse Wood, Maidstone, to highlight the plight of British ash trees. Ash to Ash project, created by


artists Ackroyd & Harvey, will be a cultural landmark to celebrate the ash trees that will be affected by ash dieback, which is now ravaging the species. Up to 98% of Britain’s 150 mil-


lion mature ash trees could die within the next decade, it has been claimed. Ash to Ash will remain in the


country park until 2021. Nick Johannsen, director of the


Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit, said: “It is highly unlikely that there will be a cure or that we will prevent the


spread of Ash dieback; thereforewe are passionate about the need to record and celebrate the ash and ash landscapes before they are lost.” Beccy Speight, CEO of theWood-


land Trust said: “The Ash Project shares our belief that arts and cul- ture provide an essential link be- tween people and the landscapes and woodlands in which we live.”


Leader’s tribute to former deputy


THE man who had the arduous task of steeringKentCountyCoun- cil through one of its toughest fi- nancial periods has died. John Simmonds, MBE – KCC’s


deputy leader from 2013 to 2017 – died lastmonth after a long illness. Hewas 82. In a tribute KCC leader Paul


Carter, praised Cllr Simmonds for his “enormous contribution” dur- ing 17 years of public service. Mr Carter said: “John brought a


wealth of experience from his highly successful career in banking and finance. In his role as cabinet member for finance,he steeredKCC through themost austere times the authority has experienced.


Maidstone Weald September 2018 “His astute commercial and fi-


nancial brain enabled KCC to con- tinue to deliver good services to our residents and businesses.” Cllr Simmonds served as a cabi-


netmember for both educationand finance formany years. He grew up in Broadstairs and


went to school at Chatham House in Ramsgate. Mr Carter added: “John was a


wise, intelligent, determined and gentlemanmuch loved by allwho worked with him, and he will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.” He leaves wife Barbara, with


whom he had three children. The couple lived inWhitstable. Mr Simmonds hadbeenthe serv-


ingConservativemember forCan- terbury North since June 2001. No arrangements have yet beenmade for a by-election.


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  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48