Sittingbourne

A prolific shoplifter, who assaulted three police officers, has been jailed just a day after he was arrested in Sittingbourne.

Albert Ramsden repeatedly stole groceries from a Co-op in Forbes Road, Faversham during a spate of offences between Wednesday 8th March and Sunday 12th March. On Wednesday (15th March) police officers detained Ramsden in Bell Road, Sittingbourne. During the arrest he assaulted three officers, by kicking, elbowing and also attempting to bite the constables.

Gordon Henderson, Member of Parliament for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has announced he will be standing down at the next General Election.

Mr Henderson made the announcement in a speech at the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative Association Annual General Meeting earlier this eveening (Friday 17^th March) in front of members.

Before becoming an MP, Mr Henderson was elected to both Swale Borough Council, where he was twice Deputy Leader, and Kent County Council.

There will be an increased police presence in town this weekend following a recent rise in reports of nuisance behaviour in Sittingbourne.

A 48-hour dispersal order, under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014, will commenced at 4pm today (Friday 17th March) and remain in place until 8pm tomorrow (Saturday 18th March) evening.

Two men, suspected of stealing fuel from lorries, were arrested following quick work from a Kent Police dog and officers.

At around 3.45am on Monday (13th March) morning officers travelling on the A249 Maidstone-bound near Bobbing noticed a car parked close behind an HGV in a lay-by.

Two men then fled the scene as the patrol vehicle approached, with Police Dog Ciara and her handler called to assist in a search across fields.

Both suspects, one aged 30 and the other 21, were located shortly afterwards, arrested and later released on bail pending further enquiries.

Local officers are seeking witnesses following reports of three purses being stolen in Sittingbourne town centre.

The thefts are thought to have taken place between 9am and 1pm last Tuesday (28th February).

The victims were allegedly targeted in separate incidents at two charity shops in The Forum Shopping Centre and Roman Square, and also a store in the High Street. The crimes were only discovered at a later stage when the victims realised their property was missing.

Monday (6th March) saw Sittingbourne get it's own hybrid car club launch - in part due to the success of the three year low emissions car club trial launched in Faversham in April last year.

Photo (L-R): Matt Hogben, Gordon Henderson MP, Angel Oduneye-Folarin and Paul Crocker

A Litter Angel has had her winning poster design put up in local McDonald’s car parks following last year’s anti-litter poster competition in primary schools across Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

It was Sittingbourne Parkrun's seventh birthday on Saturday (25th February) with event number 290 and a celebration with cheers, cake and coffee.

Parkrun legend, 82 year old John Waterman, completed his 250^th parkrun milestone as part of the celebrations.

Since the event started there has been 6,480 participants with a whopping 8,896 personal bests recorded. All made possible by 752 volunteers including four legged friends Bertie, Milo, Mollie and Blue to name a few.

A dispersal order will be in place over the weekend to tackle nuisance vehicles in a rural area of Sittingbourne.

It will operate from 7pm tonight (Friday 24th February) until 7pm on Sunday (26th February) and covers Sheppey Way, Old Ferry Road, Swale Way and Barge Way near Kemsley Fields.

The order is being implemented by Kent Police due to an increase in reports of nuisance vehicles and dangerous driving in the district at weekends. It allows officers to stop anyone involved in anti-social behaviour and move them on from the area.

A Sittingbourne man will appear before court following break-ins at more than 10 properties including a charity, in rural areas of the town and near Maidstone.

The alleged offences occurred between 30th September and 7th November 2021. Items stolen included power tools, bicycles, quad bikes, as well as valuable machinery including a John Deere lawnmower.

Oliver King, 36, of Glenbrook Grove, was arrested in a vehicle on the A2 after a short pursuit involving the police helicopter, on Monday 7th November 2022.