Local News

Four charges have been authorised against a man following a report a business was burgled in Sittingbourne.

A computer and printer are said to have been stolen from a business in Conqueror Court on the night of Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th January.

Following enquiries carried out by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, Simon Owen was arrested on suspicion of the offence on Tuesday (16th February).

He has since been charged with the offence, and three additional shoplifting offences which are all said to have taken place at a supermarket in Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, last Monday (8th February). Various bottles of alcohol, worth a combined total of around £250, are reported to have been stolen.

The 47-year-old, of Porcelain Close in Sittingbourne, was remanded in custody to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday  (Wednesday 17th February) where he was released on bail and will next appear before Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday 17th March.

Information is being sought following a fatal collision on the coastbound M2 near Blue Bell Hill yesterday (Tuesday 16th February) morning.

At  approximately 11.28am Kent Police were called to the collision, involving a blue Vauxhall Corsa and a white Kia Picanto between Junctions 3 and 4.

A 79-year-old man was confirmed deceased at the scene. A woman suffered injuries and was taken to hospital and a third vehicle, an articulated lorry, sustained damage from the debris shortly after the collision.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are investigating the incident and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw either vehicle beforehand, or has dash cam footage which could assist enquiries.

Witnesses are asked to call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798 538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting Ref: AH/KA/012/21.

The road was closed, in both directions, for most of the afternoon whilst investigation work was undertaken by the Kent Police SCIU.

Local detectives have issued an appeal for information following a report of a robbery in Sittingbourne.

At around 7:00pm on Saturday 16th January, three men entered a shop in St John’s Avenue where two shop assistants were working.

It is alleged one of the men, who was holding a bladed weapon, threatened a staff member while the other two suspects stole a quantity of tobacco. The second shop assistant is reported to have been assaulted and the men then stole cash and some bottles of alcohol before leaving the premises.

One of the suspects is described as wearing a black coat, white or grey gloves, black tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the legs and black trainers. He was carrying a green holdall and had a black face mask. The second had a blue coat with a grey hooded top underneath, blue or grey gloves, a black hat, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers. He was wearing a blue surgical face mask. The third suspect is described as wearing a dark coat, grey jogging bottoms, dark trainers, a dark woollen hat and a blue surgical face mask. He had black and orange gloves.

Investigating officer, PC Harry Groves, of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, told SFM News: ‘While investigators are completing enquiries in the area, including the examination of CCTV footage, we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident or saw somebody acting suspiciously, to contact us.'

Anyone with any information, that may assist the investigation, is urged to call the Kent Police Appeal Line on 01795 419119, quoting crime reference 46/8283/21, or alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers FREE and anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by using their anonymous online form at: crimestoppers-uk.org.

A popular former councillor from Sittingbourne has been made a Freeman of the Borough of Swale.

Peter Morgan, was given the honour at a special meeting of the council last night (Wednesday 3rd February), having been nominated by the council leader, Cllr Roger Truelove.

Cllr Truelove told SFM News: “In my long time associated with this council, I cannot think of anyone who has represented the sense of service with greater distinction than Peter Morgan. Honouring him sets a high benchmark for us now serving on this council. Peter schooled many community groups into existence and very frequently stayed with people’s projects, usually as chairman. A few years ago, when Peter fell in his cellar at home, he had to go into the Memorial Hospital. After visiting him there, I put a short message on a Facebook page to let people know he was progressing well and the public response was overwhelming".

Cllr Truelove went on to say: “In wishing Peter well, a multitude of people recalled their lifelong thanks to him, for all he had been to them as a councillor, but also in the wider community and strikingly as a teacher. Peter is a Welshman, with a gift for public speaking, and came to Sittingbourne in 1948 and made it his lifelong home. He was first a teacher at the Milton Butts and then at Westlands School. He was elected to the Sittingbourne and Milton District Council in 1962 and campaigned for years for council recognition of the Citizens Advice Bureau. He became the first Liberal Mayor of Swale in 1987 and Chair of Kent County Council in 1996.

Cllr Truelove concluded: “Among his many community roles he has been a lay preacher, chair of the Swale Footpaths Group, founder member of the Twinning Association between Sittingbourne and Ypres, chair of the Dolphin Barge Museum, founder of the Sittingbourne Heritage Museum, governor of Schools in Sittingbourne and Queenborough, co-founder of the Sittingbourne Music Society, founder of Crossroads Care, founder and Chair of Home Start, chair of Sittingbourne and District Volunteer Bureau. Many words are abused these days and one of them is legend. But even so, Peter Morgan’s service to the community is legendary. Peter put service first and politics second. His career is an example and inspiration to us all and I am pleased members unanimously supported the call to honour him as a Freeman of the Borough of Swale.”

Peter joins other Freemen of the borough such as Bob Geldof KBE and Paralympian and TV presenter Steve Brown.