Kent Police

The victim of a violent and controlling man from Sittingbourne has seen him jailed.

During 2022, the woman was in a relationship with Nuno Rodrigues and suffered constant assaults at his hands. The abuse included an incident when Rodrigues forcefully pinned her to the ground whilst placing his hands around her neck. This prevented her from breathing and caused visible bruising.

A Sittingbourne shoplifter has been jailed within two days of her arrest.

Between Sunday 5th November and Sunday 19 November, Rebecca Lee targeted three stores in the town centre on five separate occasions. Meat, cleaning items and laundry products were stolen from Morrisons, Lidl in West Street and Asda in Mill Way. At the latter, Lee assaulted a member of staff as she sought to leave the premises without paying.

A house in Newington has been subject to a partial closure order after it was linked to a disturbance.

The 28-day order was granted at Medway Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (8th November) after Kent Police applied to the court for the partial closure of the house in Church Lane.

Under Section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the order prevents anyone from visiting or being inside the property, other than the landlord or the tenant, during that period, or else risk a custodial sentence or an unlimited fine.

A Swale burglar has received swift justice and is starting a prison sentence just two days after his arrest.

Last Tuesday (7th November), Kent Police received a report that a van had been stolen from a garage belonging to a business in Sittingbourne High Street. One of the company’s employees checked an onboard tracker and was able to alert officers to its location.

An ongoing Kent Police campaign, to protect businesses in Swale from crime, has continued with multiple charges for a suspected shoplifter.

Kent Police was notified that on Monday 21st August 2023, a man had attempted to steal Lego worth almost £280 from B&M in Neats Court Retail Park, Queenborough.

Between Thursday 19th October and Sunday 29th October, staff at Sainsbury’s in Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne reported five separate thefts. Bottles of spirits valued at around £1,000 were allegedly taken by a man who left the store without paying.

Witnesses and dashcam are sought after several attempted break-ins and the theft of a car in Swale.

Officers are investigating 10 incidents in which four men are alleged to have targeted houses and vehicles over seven days in September.

At around 2am on Friday 22nd September, an attempt was made to enter a home in Aspen Drive until the four suspects were disturbed by a neighbour.

Similar reports were received around an hour later in Nelson Avenue, where a group of people were seen trying to break into two properties.

Local Police officers, investigating allegations of dangerous driving, are appealing for witnesses.

Kent Police were called at 8.45pm last night (Friday 6th October) to a report of a van driving dangerously in St Michael’s Road, Sittingbourne.

Officers attended the scene alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, where a local man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

The owner of two unaccompanied dogs found wandering on their leads is being sought by Kent Police officers.

The male and female dogs were found at around 10pm on Monday (2nd October) evening in Parsonage Lane, Bobbing.

Typically, unaccompanied dogs considered lost or abandoned are handed over to the local dog warden when their owners cannot be located. However, the circumstances in which the animals were found on Monday suggest their owner may be unaccounted for and officers are keen find them to ensure they are safe, as well as reunite them with their pets.

Swale Borough Council (SBC) have teamed up with Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to crack down on suspected fly-tipping on a day of action collecting evidence and taking enforcement action for waste related crimes.  
  
SBC have confirmed that 8 vehicles were stopped and searched and 4 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued.  
  

A man from Sittingbourne, who stalked a woman and threatened to throw acid in her face, has been jailed.

Duncan Friend harassed and intimidated his victim over several weeks and also made threats with a knife, to people she knew.

Friend became known to the woman in December 2022 and in the weeks that followed bought her gifts including a bag, shoes, and scarf. By the end of January 2023, the victim became concerned by constant messages she was receiving on her phone from Friend, which included demands she needed to return the gifts to him.