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downsmail.co.uk Remote car a�ack ismystery


“I THOUGHT itwas rabbits,” said JohnHolland, hands thrust deep into his pockets in the bit- ter January sunshine. “They trip the security lights sometimes.” He stands on the banks of the


River Len, at the bottom of his garden and shakes his head with disbelief as the memories of that night resurface. “Then there was this almighty


crashing. I’d beenwatchingDrag- ons Den and dozing a bit. I was- n’t surewhatwas going on. “I’m not so great on my legs


these days, but I got up and reached the front door in time to see a man dressed all in black, leaping overmy five-bar gate and running away.” John’s driveway was covered


with shattered glass. Both his car and wife Christine’s had their windows staved in. The damage was so extensive, it took repairers three days to get the parts, and eight hours to fix. The couple, both 78, weremys-


tified ... and afraid. “We called the police,” said


John, a retired long-distance lorry driver. “They said they’d be here that evening. We waited up all night.We felt totally isolated.Vul-


Sex offender is


in order breach A SEX offender breached the terms of his sexual offences order by not telling police he had a pass- port, a court heard. Caner Cingoz (52) appeared at


Maidstone Magistrates Court after failing to comply with the notifica- tion requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The breach oc- curred in Maidstone. Prosecuting, Julie Farvarce told


said Cingoz had been cautioned in 2001 and 2017 and had been regis- tered on the sex offenders’ list since 1999. On August 26 last year police went to Cingoz’ home and discov- ered he had had a Cyprus passport since July. On October 5, 2018, Cin- goz was interviewed by police where he admitted the matter. In court, Cingoz said he went to


Cyprus without telling police and had obtained the passport there. Mr Cox said: “These matters can


often lead to a prison sentence and you don’t want that do you?” Cingoz, of Otford Rd, Sevenoaks,


defending himself, said he had a job in a fish and chip shop and had been working there since the new year. He admitted the breach and was fined £205.


18


John Hollands, above, and the damaged car, right


nerable. We thought the police would come to help us. They did- n’t. The next daywe called again. They said they would be here. They didn’t come. “A couple of days later,my son


Barclay, a London cabbie, saw a police car in a lay-by up the road and he asked them what was going on. The policeman said he’d get someone round, and a local officer arrived that afternoon. She


has been brilliant.” The motive, for what seems on


the surface to have been a random attack, is unclear, but John feels hisHollingbourne home is too re- mote for the incident to be chance or opportunist. I’ve lived here since ’83,” he said. I’ve never had a ruck with anyone. Yet whoever did this didn’t take anything, just did a load of damage.” His local parish council chair-


man, Eddie Powell, feels the au- thorities have failed theHollands. “I appreciate the police have a lot to dealwith,” he said. “On paper, this seems like a minor crime compared to some. “But the human impact on


these people, who are isolated, afraid and reliant on their cars, has been immense.” Kent Police were approached for a comment.


Plan for ‘innovation’ complex


MAIDSTONE Borough Council has applied to itself for planning permission to build a £9.5m of- fice and business support com- plex on the Kent Medical Campus. The authority’s application –


for an innovation centre off junc- tion7of theM20–wouldprovide offices, conference facilities, break-out space and meeting rooms for up to 270 people. Themove,whichwould see fur-


ther building on land which al- ready hosts a hospital and mental health facilities, has prompted calls for assurances that any development remains linked to health services and life sciences. Bearsted borough councillor,


Val Springett, said: “Ihaveargued from the very beginning that if they want to have an innovation centre, the businesses it attracts must be connected to the science ormedical fields. “I was given a verbal reassur-


ance that this would be the case by twoMBC officers inmid-Octo- ber last year. I verymuch hope it


Maidstone East February 2019


will attract start-ups to the cam- pus.” And independent Maidstone


councillor for Shepway, Eddie Powell, added: “I amever hopeful and confident that an innovation centre will be a success. What Maidstone does not need ismore empty offices.” It has been reported that those


behind the proposals believe the new business hub will generate £120mfor the local economy. The council is expected to rule


on its planning application in April,withconstructionstartingin the autumn, if approved. Meanwhile, the issueofmoving anature reserveontheKentMed-


ical Campus site tomakeway for two schools is attracting mount- ing opposition. Land set aside for a primary


school and a special needs school at Pope's Field, off Bearsted Road, is meant to become a haven forwildlife under the terms of an earlier planning approval. Now an amendment to that


application has been submitted to MBC, seeking to move the re- serve north of Pope'sWood. Boxley Parish Council argues it


is important the reserve stays where it is to maintain a green corridor from the M20 to Mote Park. Boxley Parish Council, page 22


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