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Village store robber jailed


ANarmed robber,who targeted a pensionerworking alone in a vil- lage store, has been jailed for more than four years. JackReaderwas caught bypolice


after brandishing a knife and snatching cash from the Shop on the Green in Chart Sutton, on Jan- uary 21. Reader (20), of Terrace Road,


Maidstone, enteredthepremises at 4.50pm and produced an “eight- inch knife”. Maidstone Crown Court heard hewaved the blade at the shop worker, a woman in her 60s, and told her to open the till. He then fledwith about £100. Police identified Reader as the


prime suspect and established that he had used a silverMercedes as a getaway car. He was arrested on February 13, wearing the same jacket and trousers as the robber, whose image had been caught on CCTV during the raid. Tattoos on Reader’s left hand


and a distinctive mole below his ear, confirmedhewas the offender. Reader was


subsequently


chargedwith robbery andpossess- ing a knife in a public place. He pleaded guilty and, on March 14, was sentenced to four years and threemonths imprisonment for the robbery, and 18 months for pos- sessing a knife in public. The sen-


tenceswill run concurrently. Detective Constable David


Evans said: “Reader subjected his victim to a truly terrifying ordeal. She was no doubt left fearing for her life after he terrorised herwith a large knife andforcedher to open the till. “Thankfully, we were able to


promptly identify and arrest him, ensuring he could pose no further threat to people in the local com- munity. “The courts have passed a sig-


nificant sentence and I hope at the very least that it will provide the victim with the reassurance that justice has nowbeen served.”


Speedwatch help call


SUTTON Valence Parish Council says it has a share in Speedwatch equipment…but no volunteers to use it. Despite complaints about speeding in the village, especially on the


A274, residents have been slow to come forward to support the traffic- calming initiative. The parish council said: “There is no point complaining about lack of


police action, as everybody is aware of the pressures these days.” The council says speeding vehicle data collected by volunteers is taken


seriously by the authorities, and does result in penalties. Those who can spare a few hours each week and are willing to un-


dergo online training, should contact the parish clerk by email clerk@sut- tonvalence.org.uk or by calling 01622 844135.


Horse pulled fromMedway


FIREcrewshave rescuedahorse fromthe RiverMedway. The animal got stuck inwater


close to Teston Lane, Teston on March 26. Kent Fire and Rescue Service


sent its animal rescue andwater safetyunits to the scene ina two


hour operationto save thehorse. A spokesman said: “Crews


used special machinery to lift the 15-hand horse from the water. It was checked over by a vet and didn't have any in- juries.” The RSPCAalso attended.


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Whitehead Monckton Limited (no. 08366029), registered in England & Wales. Registered office 5 Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 608279.


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