Sittingbourne

Report by Mike Green

Sittingbourne made it seventeen without defeat on Saturday (14th December) afternoon, with a hard-fought win over Merstham and extended the Brickies incredible League run at Fortress Woodstock. 

The search for a 65 year old man missing from Sittingbourne for more than two weeks is continuing.

Peter Henderson was last seen in the Pear Tree Walk area of Newington at 12.17am on Tuesday 19th November 2024.

Since his disappearance officers have carried out various lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and house to house enquiries but Mr Henderson remains missing.

He is described as white, around 5ft 10in, and has light grey combed over hair. He also has a short grey beard and wears glasses.

Two of Swale's local Specsavers stores, in Sittingbourne and Sheerness, have joined forces to support local children's charity Demelza.

The stores have chosen the charity as their charity of the year for 2025, and have already started collecting toys in store to donate this festive season.

On Saturday (30th November) the Mayor of Swale, Councillor Ben Martin, popped into The Forum store to support the appeal by dropping in a donation of his own.

Neighbourhood officers have brought some robust enforcement to Sittingbourne in response to recent reports of anti-social behaviour.

A dispersal order was instigated in the town’s retail park over the weekend between 5pm on Friday (29th November) until 5pm yesterday (Sunday 1st December). Officers were deployed to the area after business owners and shoppers raised their concerns about the conduct of some visitors.

New CCTV has been released by officers today (Tuesday 26th November) who are continuing to search for a man who was last seen in Sittingbourne one week ago.

Peter Henderson, 65, was last seen in the Pear Tree Walk area of Newington at 12.17am last Tuesday (19th November).

Following enquiries officers have released a CCTV image of Peter, which was captured in Pear Tree Walk and shows him heading north west towards Orchard Drive.

Swale Borough Council’s CCTV control centre, based in Sittingbourne, is expanding to become a national safety hub.

The council’s control centre monitors Swale’s public space CCTV cameras 24/7, 365 days a year and works closely with Kent Police to tackle crime and keep residents safe.

Kent Police are reminding shoppers to stay vigilant following reports of cash being stolen from bags and purses in Sittingbourne.

On the morning of Friday 1st November, a woman withdrew money from a town centre bank and then walked back to her car in supermarket car park. As she got into the vehicle a woman knocked on the window stating there were pins on the floor. The victim got out to pick them up and a man approached and assisted with the task. The victim later realised money had been stolen from her bag while she was distracted.

A sex offender, who groomed a child online before meeting her in Swale, has been jailed.

Asif Mirza was caught with the victim inside his car after concerns were raised by an alert Kent Police employee.

Mirza initially contacted the victim through social media at the start of 2024 and showed sympathy when she disclosed some personal issues that concerned her. Having gained the girl’s trust Mirza pressured her to send him some indecent images.

Swale Borough Council is organising this year’s civic Service of Remembrance in Sittingbourne on Sunday 10th November.  

The council’s Remembrance Sunday service begins at 10am at St Michael’s church on the High Street and will be followed by a procession through the high street ending at the War Memorial on Central Avenue. 

The procession, led by the Royal British Legion Riders, will arrive at the Cenotaph at 11am where the remembrance and the laying of wreaths will take place until 12pm. 

A prolific criminal has been jailed following multiple thefts and driving offences in Swale.

Darren Regan started his crime spree in the early hours of Monday 29th January 2024. He gained entry to two vehicles at addresses near Sheerness and stole a pair of binoculars from one of them. A short time later he was stopped by a patrol and the constables found the binoculars hidden in his coat sleeve. Regan was arrested and later charged with theft and interfering with a vehicle.