News Thief drinking


‘to faceworld’ SHOPLIFTER Shaina Marston, who was banned from every su- permarket selling alcohol, stole drink to help her copewith her fear of the outdoors, a court heard. Marston (25), of Brunswick Street


inMaidstone, appeared in court on five theft charges, after stealing at least eight bottles of wine and a crate of Budweiser fromTesco in a three-month period. On November 2, the court heard


that Marston “feels better” when intoxicated, due to mental health issues and a personality disorder. She told Maidstone Magistrates


Court: “I suffer from agoraphobia and the alcohol gives me confi- dence to go outside and not be in- doors all day. I’m done with this lifestyle and I am ashamed of my behaviour, I do not want to be in and out of court rooms allmy life.” The defendant also admitted she


typically spends more than £100 a week on alcohol, and drinks to an excessive level at least three times a week.Marston pleaded guilty to all five charges.


Jail for stalker


who bugged A POLICEMAN from Maidstone has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after planting a listening device in the bedroomof awoman hewas stalk- ing. Ainsley Francis (57,) hid the de-


vice behind a plug socket in order to record the victim’s movements and conversations on his home computer andmobile phone. Francis, of Plains Avenue in


Maidstone, stalked the woman over a period spanning almost three years. Hewas arrested onMarch 28 last


year and when officers searched a property linked to him in Dagen- ham a computer was recovered, whichwas found to contain a large number of audio files, connected to the listening device. When Fran- cis’s mobile phone was also tested a further 187 recordings were dis- covered. Francis admitted in- stalling the device but claimed he had not listened to it since early 2016. At Maidstone Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking, involving fear of violence or serious alarmor distress. On November 2, he was sen-


tenced to three years and nine months in prison. Detective Con- stable TonyHatcher said: “Francis’ actions have had a huge impact on both the victim’s wellbeing and daily life.”


4 Maidstone December 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Anger at homes plan for edge of borough


RESIDENTShave accusedplannersof “takingtheMickeyoutofMaidstone”


after draft proposals formajor development along the borough’s borders. North Allington Action Group


has been perplexed by Tonbridge and Malling’s draft local plan which sets out the council’s long- term aspirations to build thou- sands of new homes and acres of business facilities on Maidstone’s doorstep. Campaigners say, if given the


green light, the schemes will put a strain on the borough’s creaking infrastructure and services, but contribute nothing to its coffers. Barbara Woodward, of NAAG,


said: “We’ve already seen a lot of development just the other side of the borough boundary which is fundamentally changingAllington. “Schools are oversubscribed, GP


appointments are hard to come by, there are longwaiting lists for den- tists. “You can’t keep building unless


you create services and infrastruc- ture to gowith it.” The action group is particularly


concerned that Maidstone will get no benefit fromdevelopers’money – known as Section 106 funding – intended to contribute towards the cost of providing community and social infrastructure for the bor- oughs they build in. “Tonbridge and Malling get the


money for developments like this,” said Barbara, “and we see none of it. We just live with the conse- quences. It’s taking theMickey out ofMaidstone.” Allington’s concerns came to


light asMaidstone Borough Coun- cil prepared to fire off a raft of ob- jections of its own to the Tonbridge andMalling draft plan. In a detailed report, council offi- cials recommended issuing a for-


mal response to their neighbour’s “approach to housing, air quality, transport, green infrastructure and gypsy and traveller provision”. Maidstone councillors were due


to debate the issue as Downs Mail went to press. Among Tonbridge and Malling’s


draft plans are proposals for 900 homes in Eccles by 2031, 900 in KingsHill, 1,000 in southAylesford, and 444 at East Malling Research Centre. The council also intends to allo-


cate 7.8 hectares of business space at East Malling Research Station, 7.3 hectares northof theM20 at Junction 5, 1.4 hectares at Hermitage Court and 1.5 hectares inAylesford.Addi- tionally, the authority has ear- marked Aylesford Newsprint for light industrial use.


A £2.5mvision for town centre


THIS is one of two images released to show what the Maidstone East regeneration scheme will look like. On the site of the old sorting of-


fice in the county town, Network Rail has shown how the area will look after the £2.5mrefurbishment. The scheme will open the area


with a paved concourse and foun- tains near the station,which handles much of Maidstone’s commuter traffic.


Tesco boxing cleverwith packaging


A LOCAL Tesco store has taken on board customer pressure to put emphasis on greener shopping. After a series of requests from


local shoppers, Tesco in Grove Green has put prominent signs on some countersmaking it clear that shoppers are welcome to bring their own containers. Store manager Steve Peeling


said: “We are committed to elimi- nating single-use plasticwherever we can, so we’re really pleased to be building on thiswork by offer- ing our customers the option to reuse their own plastic containers when they buy meat, cheese or fish from our deli and fish coun- ters.”


Samuel Foster and Vanessa Hughes of Tesco Grove Green


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