News Shakespeare


at the castle THE Heart of Kent Hospice has joined the Changeling Theatre and Allington Castle to bring A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Maidstone. The show will take place at Allington Castle on Sunday, July 26. This year, Changeling marks


its 20th anniversary bringing high quality, outdoor touring productions of Shakespeare plays to community audiences across Kent and beyond. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been chosen as it was the first Shakespeare play the company toured back in 2001.


Changeling’s creative direc-


tor Rob Forknall said: “Every year we ask our audience to vote for their choice of plays the following year. “We decided not to do this in


2020, because we wanted to mark our 20th anniversary and, well, audiences always want us to do A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”


downsmail.co.uk


Drunk hit woman in row over ‘£20 loan’


AN ALCOHOLIC dodged jail after punching a woman in the mouth leaving her in “constant throbbing pain”. Harry Smith (25), formerly of Leybourne but now living at Link House, Maidstone, hit the victim in Boots because “she owed him £20”. Maidstone Magistrates Court


heard the victim was too afraid to leave her flat and remembers the incident every time she shuts her eyes or eats, due to the pain. Prosecuting, Chelsea Clarke


said: “At about 11.30am the victim was approached by Mr Smith in Boots. The pair began to argue over money allegedly owed to the de- fendant. “Mr Smith was heard on the


phone saying he was going to ‘smack her in the head’ if she did not pay the money. “He then punched her in the mouth. Once arrested, he then kicked two police officers.”


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31 High Street, Snodland Tel: 01634 240458 10 Malling March 2020 In a statement read to the court,


the victim said: “It’s like a recur- ring nightmare. I can’t leave my flat and I feel mentally drained. Every time the pain comes when I eat, it’s a constant reminder of what happened.” Defending, Samuel Sotunde


said: “He regrets and apologises to the victim and the officers. He was under the influence of alcohol and


admits he has a drinking problem. “He just lost it and was very


upset. He understands he doesn’t have a pretty record and he is known to probation.” The court heard Smith has over £1,000 in outstanding court fines. The chairman of the bench said:


“We took some time to come to an outcome on this matter. A big ag- gravating factor is that this was an unprovoked attack in a public place, you caused injury and you assaulted two police officers. “You were also on a community


order at the time of the assaults. However, we have heard you have taken some steps to sort out your problems.” Smith pleaded guilty to three charges of assault and was given an 18-month suspended sentence, a nine-month alcohol treatment programme, 20 rehabilitation days, a 12-week curfew and £350 in com- pensation fines.


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