Author: Benjamin

A 13-year-old boy who stabbed a teenage girl in the street in an apparently motiveless attack has been spared custody.The youngster, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, left his 15-year-old victim needing emergency bowel surgery from the wound inflicted with a kitchen knife on March 22 this year.The air ambulance was called to Adelaide Drive in SittingbourneMaidstone Crown Court heard that the boy, then aged 12, had crouched behind a car in Adelaide Drive, Sittingbourne, before pouncing on his victim shortly before 4pm.The girl, said to have been stabbed “hard” in the abdomen by her assailant, had to be…

A mixture of “technical issues” and “communication failures” prevented a town’s Christmas lights switch-on over the weekend, says a council.The decorations were set to be illuminated during Broadstairs and St Peter’s annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 30, but it was not to be.Hundreds of residents attended the Christmas Fair in Broadstairs over the weekend. Picture: Broadstairs & St Peter’s Town CouncilDespite a year of preparation by staff the highly anticipated event was left in the dark, the town’s mayor explained.Cllr Mike Garner said: “Unfortunately, the decorative lighting switch-on in Broadstairs and St Peter’s did not go as planned.“Despite a…

Essential maintenance and tunnel works will see closures of the West Tunnel, East Tunnel, and QEII Bridge from Monday, December 2, to Monday, December 9. Diversions will be in place via National Highways and local roads. The Dartford Crossing, previously known as the Dartford Tunnel until 1991, is a major road crossing over the River Thames in England. It connects Dartford in Kent (south) to Thurrock in Essex (north) via the A282 road. This information is accurate at the time of publication, but may be subject to change, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Monday, December 2 – Tuesday, December 3…

A drunk Tesco worker attacked three of his friends after he was asked to leave their home following a lewd comment to a female pal.Alex Vance, who admits he gets violent after binge drinking sessions, had been out in Rochester when he bumped into some old friends.Alex Vance attacked the trio after a night out drinking in RochesterThe 30-year-old was invited back to their home, also in the town, for more drinks after their night out came to an end.But after downing more alcohol he then made an inappropriate sexual comment to one of the women in his company.When he…

A private school is set to take in students with special education needs (SEN in the new year.A new autism centre is opening in Cobham Hall Independent School in Gravesend.Cobham Hall Independent School in GravesendCalled Bligh House, it will feature sensory rooms, quiet areas as well as swimming pool and sports hall facilities.Specialist staff will teach pupils aged 11 to 16 with a primary diagnosis in smaller class sizes.They will begin to be enrolled from January 2025 with a phased intake starting at 10 to eventually a capacity of 60.Parents can now start registering their interest here.A new SEND centre…

Motorists are facing delays after a crash on a main route.The Medway Tunnel was at a “standstill” heading into Gillingham following the accident, which happened just before the entrance to Asda in Pier Road.Motorists are facing delays near the Medway Tunnel after a crashAvoid getting stuck on Kent’s roads by keeping up-to-date on all of the latest traffic and travel news here or by following our live blog.Drivers were reportedly unable to get out of the St Mary’s Island area and there were knock-on delays around Dockside Outlet Centre.One motorist said they’d popped out for a quick shop at Asda…

The government has approved a controversial housing development in a beauty spot previously refused by the Tories, sparking fears of the area being “lost forever under concrete.”Last year, plans for the estate near Cranbrook were overturned by the then Conservation government for being “generic and suburban.”A new image of how the estate in the High Weald is set to lookNow, the new Labour administration has given it the green light.Berkeley Homes’ plans for 165 homes at Turnden, near Cranbrook, were originally approved by Tunbridge Wells council in 2021 but were called in by then Secretary of State Robert Jenrick only…

A historic sex offender, a meth empire kingpin and a taekwondo coach were also locked up. Here are the names and faces of those who were sentenced to prison time in November 2024. Four murderers Top: Kalam Bagger and Rhys Antwi. Bottom: Leo Reid and Tyrese Barnett. (Image: Met Police) Three men from south London and one from east London were jailed for the murder of a 17-year-old boy. Tyler McDermott died on April 14 last year, the day after he was shot in the head then stabbed with a machete while he was on the floor outside the studio in Norman Road,…

A road was closed after a three-car crash in a village.Officers and paramedics were called to Hale Street in East Peckham at about 11.58am today.Emergency services are attending a crash in Hale Street, East Peckham near TonbridgeThe force said the crash involved two cars and a parked vehicle.The road was taped off while crews worked at the scene in the village near Tonbridge.The route was shut in both directions.The police said earlier: “Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the South East Coast Ambulance Service were also in attendance and two people were taken to hospital. Work is ongoing to recover…

The Loo of the Year Awards are aimed at highlighting the standards of toilet provision in public spaces across the UK. Loo of the Year Awards inspectors made unannounced visits to thousands of toilets at sites across the UK to judge them. The toilets are grades either silver, gold, platinum, platinum plus, or diamond. Unacceptable toilets aren’t graded at all. The toilets are judged through their decor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment, and overall management We’ve rounded up all the Wetherspoon pubs in south east London that have won awards for having the best loos. Lewisham: The…