Kent

A man has been charged in connection with a fire at a farm on the Isle Of Sheppey.

David Staples, aged 44 and of Kingsnorth Road in Gillingham, was charged on Wednesday (10th September) with one count of arson in relation to a fire at a property in Plough Road, Eastchurch, on last Wednesday (3rd September) which destroyed 5 stables and 10 tonnes of hay.

He was also charged with five counts of possessing indecent images.

Kent Police officers are to be given more powers to deal with groups of people causing anti-social behaviour in a residential area of Sittingbourne.

Kent Police have launched an investigation after two elderly people living in the same road were burgled.

Collision investigators, from Kent Police, are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic incident on the A249 near Stockbury on Friday 22nd November) that left a motorcyclist with serious injuries.

Kent Police are urging residents throughout Swale to safeguard their homes and their belongings with the help of free anti-burglary packs.

Officers will be in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey for the remainder of this month, handing out infra-red battery operated alarms, UV pens to mark property, timer switches to help make empty homes appear occupied and personal attack alarms. The packs are free as part of Kent Police's Stay Safe this Autumn campaign.

Kent Fire & Rescue (KFRS) firefighters, from Sittingbourne fire station, were called earlier today to tackle a fire in a dutch barn in Tonge.

The KFRS we called shortly afrer 18:15hrs to the dutch barn, situated in Blacketts Road in Tonge, containing approximately 120 tonnes of bayled straw.

A scooter seized by Kent Police officers in Sittingbourne will be destroyed as efforts to target nuisance bike riders continue.

The Piaggio Liberty Scooter was confiscated after youths were caught riding it without helmets or insurance near The Meads area. Officers spotted two males riding the vehicle along Woollett Road on Tuesday 3rd September. A 15 year-old boy from Sittingbourne has been summoned to appear at court for having no licence or insurance and for not wearing a crash helmet.

Kent Police are appealing for information following a fatal road traffic collision in Teynham on Sunday (8th September) morning.

Officers were called to the A2 London Road at 5.40am, after reports that a red Honda motorcycle had been in collision with a white Scania articulated HGV.

The motorcyclist, 44 year-old Jeremy James Nicholson, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the HGV was uninjured in the incident.

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, investigating the murder on the Isle of Sheppey, have named the victim as 34 year-old Gary Pocock from London.

Police have also confirmed today that a third suspect has also been arrested.

Kent Police have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses following the discovery of a man's body on the Isle of Sheppey yesterday.

A post mortem examination concluded that the man, who has yet to be identified, died of significant head injuries.

The man has been described as white, aged between 30-40 years old, around 5ft 6ins tall and was bald.

In a bid to help identify the man, detectives have released an image of a ring the man was wearing on his wedding finger.