News ‘Axe attack’:
three arrests THREE men were charged after a “knives and axe” incident in a vil- lage near Maidstone.
The suspects, all in their 20s, are accused of burglary offences fol- lowing a violent disturbance at a caravan site off Scragged Oak Road, Detling.
It is alleged a number of people armed with weapons including knives and an axe, broke into three caravans and demanded money. The incident is reported to have happened at around 3.40am on July 22. Two of the victims suffered injuries, including a man who was reportedly stabbed in the arm. Prince Adeshokan (21), of Thorn- ton Heath, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to com- mit aggravated burglary and three counts of aggravated burglary. Two further suspects were ar-
rested on September 1. Eli Smith (25) of Lewis Close, Faversham, and James Lee (22) of Five Kilns, Stockbury Valley, Stockbury, were charged with the same offences. They were remanded in custody and will appear before Maidstone Crown Court on September 27.
downsmail.co.uk
‘Huge’ ravens cause a utter in Leeds village
A PAIR of ravens have reportedly set up home near Maidstone. There have been sightings of the enormous crow – by far the biggest of the corvid family – in the Leeds area over several weeks.
Although not rare or endan- gered, with a relatively small pop- ulation of 7,400 breeding pairs in the United Kingdom, they are not usually seen this far east. But the Royal Society for the Pro-
tection of Birds (RSPB) said that the bird appears to have been expand- ing its territories away from the west and the north. Villager Audrey Browne said:
“We all know what sort of size a common or a carrion crow is. They’re big enough, but you’d know a raven if you saw one be- cause they are just enormous. “We’re just hopeful they will hang around. The closest people normally get to a raven is up at the Tower of London, but to see them thrive in the wild is great.”
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Leeds resident Monica Wratten said one bird turned up at the end of August and called continuously for a fortnight, but was silenced when a second turned up. She added: “It was obviously
calling for its partner, and I did catch a glimpse of one the other day and it was huge.” Weighing more than three pounds, with a wingspan of nearly five feet, the crow feeds on carrion, mammals, birds and eggs, insects
A pair of ravens have been spotted in Leeds village,
suggesting they may be extending their territory to the east Picture: RSPB
and invertebrates. The RSPB said: “The common raven is a big black bird, the biggest member of the crow family. It is all black with a large bill and long wings. In flight, it shows a diamond-shaped tail. “Ravens breed mainly in the
west and north, although they are expanding eastwards. Most birds are residents, though some, espe- cially non-breeders and young birds, wander from their breeding areas, but do not travel far.”
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