Sittingbourne

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.

Members of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative Association have voted, by secret ballot, and have selected Aisha Cuthbert as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey at the next General Election.

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.

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.

Electric vehicle drivers will now be able to get a more reliable charge when visiting Sittingbourne, with Swale Borough Council (SBC) upgrading the EV charging points in the Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park. 

The previous chargers on the ground floor of the car park were unreliable and have now been replaced with two brand new Pod Point chargers.  

These offer a total of four charging outlets for electric vehicles to use, two 22KW fast chargers and two 7KW chargers.  

A man has been given a 26-year jail term after a violent assault on a lone woman in Sittingbourne.

In the early hours of Sunday 11th December 2022, the victim was walking near Canterbury Road when she was approached by a man she knew, Matthew Breaker.

He suddenly launched a violent attack, hitting her repeatedly with a hammer before pinning her to the floor and thrusting a blade towards her face and torso.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is responding to a lorry fire on the M2 coast-bound near to Junction 5 for the A249 Sittingbourne.

Seven fire engines and a bulk water carrier are in attendance and crews wearing breathing apparatus are using compressed air foam to extinguish the flames. 

Both the coast-bound and London-bound carriageways have been closed while crews work at the scene, and drivers are warned to expect delays. 

Please listen out for the latest traffic updateson 106.9 SFM before travelling towards the affected area. 

A pan of oil sparked a kitchen fire at a home in Kemsley earlier this afternoon (Monday 7th August) after it accidentally overheated and caught alight. 

Two fire engines were sent to the house in Recreation Way, where crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. 

One person was checked over as a precaution for a slight burn to their hand.

Kent Fire & rescue (KFRS) are reminding poeple to always take extra care in the kitchen and make sure that they go not get distracted when they’re cooking or to leave it unattended.