News Wasteproblem


THE borough council has been forced to address the problem of overflowing bins full of dogmess. Issues arose in late April with a


contractor which meant the dog waste bins acrossMaidstone were not emptied. AspokesmanforMaidstoneBor-


ough Council said: "Due to issues experiencedwith a contractor, you may notice that the dogwaste bins maintained by your parish council are currently full. "To help resolve the problem as


quickly as possible, please do not add to overflowing bins – instead, you can use one of themanyMBC multi-purpose litter bins across the borough andwithin our parks.”


Dog fun day


KENT Life is staging a fun charity dog show for families' favourite pooches on June 30. Beth’s Dog Show comes to the


popularMaidstone attractionwith a selection of classeswhich include best puppy, prettiest girl,waggiest tail and best in show. Dogs can be entered for classes


on the day, at a cost of £1.50. The eventwill be raisingmoney


for the Brain Tumour Charity. Judging, by Suzanne Crow, starts at noon.Admission to Kent Life at Sandling also applies and gives visitors access to the real working farm. For further information, call 01622


763936 www.kentlife.org.uk Murder case


SHEPWAY man Jeffrey Mills has pleadednot guilty to themurder of RochestermanAndrewJenkins. Mr Mills (54), of Cambridge


Crescent, enteredhis plea by video link from Elmley Prison at Maid- stone Crown Court. Mr Jenkins died onMarch 17 after receiving a gunshotwound. Pleaswere not taken on firearms


charges. Smart lights


MOTORISTS took part in the first county trial of smart traffic lights in Maidstone thismonth. Drivers using the Tonbridge


Road fromApril 29 toMay 3were subject to newradar controls. A power company, which was


digging up the road, has been working with KCC to develop ‘smart’ lights to reduce hold-ups. The “Auto-Green” systemmoni-


tors traffic volumes andadjusts the lights to increase in carmovements and improve air quality.


34 Maidstone June 2019 or visit


downsmail.co.uk


Councilworker drove after ‘puffs of cannabis’


A MAIDSTONE Borough Council builder was spotted by police smoking cannabis after being offered it by a colleague, a court heard.


Troy Newell (35), a grounds


maintenance worker, claimed he gave in to “peer pressure” from his friend, who was described in court as an agencyworker. But his moment of weakness


cost him dear, with a ban and hefty fine at Maidstone Magis- trates Court. Newellwas turning out of James


WhatmanWay at about 3.30pmon October 22, 2018, when his co- worker offered him a puff of his joint. Declining initially, the court


heard Newell took “a few puffs” before dropping him off in his Ford Mondeo at Maidstone West train station. Prosecuting, Debbie Jones said:


“Police had received information that Mr Newell had been seen smoking cannabis and eventually caught up with him on the A229 Fairmeadowin the town centre. “He failed a roadside breath test and his blood reading came back


as 9.1mg (the legal driving limit is 2mg). Police could smell the cannabis on him.” Dressed in his high-visMBC or-


ange and blue work clothes, Newell, of Nursery Grove,


Gravesend, told the court: “I ob- viously accept responsibility for what I’ve done. Iwas dropping off my colleague who is an agency worker at the station when he askedme if itwas all right to smoke in the car. I said it was fine, even though I felt uncomfortable. This went onfor a fewmonths andI just left him to it. Then he started call- ingme an ‘oldman’ so eventually I gave intothepeerpressure andhad a couple of puffs.” The courtheardNewellhadonly


ever smokedcannabis as a teenager and now only has the “odd ciga- rette”due to backpainanddepres- sion.MagistrateMartin Alderman said: “For this offence, I have no other optionthantodisqualify you. You will be banned from driving for 12months and youwill have to pay a £315 fine.” Newell admitted a single charge


of driving a vehicle with a pro- portion of a controlled drug above the legal limit.


Bridges drunk in car Two charged


A DRUNK implored police to handcuff him when he was stopped at the wheel of his BMW more than twice the legal alcohol limit, a court heard. Sean Bridges (38), of Capell


Closewas spotted speeding down a country lane after a night at the pub. Prosecuting, Debbie Jones said: “Police spottedMr Bridges at about 10.40pm on November 21 last year, driving a silver BMW down Farleigh Lane well over the speed limit. “They stopped him in Vicarage


Lane and could smell alcohol. Mr Bridges then put his hands to- wards police and said ‘Arrestme, I cannot believe I’ve done this’.” Maidstone magistrates heard


Bridges (pictured right)was taken to the police station and a blood test showed a reading of 167mg - the legal limit is 80mg. Married father-of-two Bridges


told the court: “Itwas just stupid. I had four pints that evening.” The court heard Bridges had


only just completed a medical exam to get his licence back, after


beingdisqualifiedfor 14months in November 2017. Chairman of the bench,MartinAlderman said: “Be- cause of your record, you will be disqualified from driving for 40 months.” When asked howthe banwould


affect him, Bridges said: “Abit, but Iwill just have to dealwith it.” Bridges, who denies having a


drink problem, admitted driving a vehicle over the alcohol limit and was given a 40-monthdisqualifica- tion and a £613 fine.


in knife bli ANOTHER two men have been arrested inMaidstone by officers using stop and search powers as part of a clampdown on knife crime. Officers say bothwere found to


have knives and have been charged with various possession offences. The allegedoffencesoccurredin


Brenchley Gardens and Brewer Street in lateApril. Daniel Baker (24), from Ton-


bridge Road, Maidstone, was re- manded in custody. A 17-year-old, from Harriet-


sham, was charged with the same offence and possession of cannabis andappearsbeforeMed- waymagistratesat a later date. Kent Police Inspector Mark


Hedges said: “Carrying a knife also increases the riskofbeing the victimof a serious assault and our officers will continue to take ro- bust andproactive actiontodetect, stop and search thosewhowe be- lieve may be in possession of weapons.”


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