Kent

A SYDENHAM woman is a ‘prisoner’ in her own home due to a 16-month-long mice infestation which the housing association has refused to treat.

THE managing director of Kent clothing chain, Punkyfish, has been jailed for 18 months after avoiding tax and pocketing almost £68,000 from his employees' wages. Kemal Gediz, 49, of Forest Road, East London, was jailed on Friday at Canterbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to VAT fraud and theft on April 9. In May 2011, Gediz submitted a VAT return for Aliko Ltd, trading as Punkyfish, which showed sales of £1.2 million for the 18 month period starting in November 2009. These were at stores which were based in London, Bluewater, Canterbury and Maidstone. HMRC discovered sales were in fact for £7.3 million, some £6 million more than he had declared. Gediz's lies had resulted in a VAT underpayment of a sum estimated at between £300,000 and £500,000. Further checks also revealed Gediz had also failed to file any tax forms or pay the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance contributions he had deducted from the salaries of approximately 70 staff. These contributions totaled around £67,600. David Margree, assistant director, criminal investigation, HMRC, said: "Gediz's idea of getting ahead in business was to falsify his accounts and steal from his own employees. In doing so he deceived not only HMRC and his staff, but also the thousands of businesses that operate honestly and within the law. "HMRC will thoroughly investigate suspected tax fraud, and bring enforcement action against those who cheat the system."

A PROTEST picnic against the bedroom tax will be held in Margate on Sunday. Campaigners will meet at the Clock Tower in Margate at noon. The protest has been organised by Thanet Benefit Justice. A spokesperson for Thanet Benefit Justice said: "We're asking people to bring placards and food to this protest. "A picnic protest seems especially appropriate against a tax which may force many people out of their homes." One campaigner, Shirley, said that she was going to join the protest even though the bedroom tax doesn't affect her personally. Shirley said: "I feel so angry that they can target the old people and the poor people without concern for the stress this causes them, that I feel obliged to come out and protest and stand up for their rights on their behalf as they can't do it for themselves" Another campaigner, Stella said: "The cuts the government is making are punishing the poor. The bedroom tax will end up making people homeless. We have to do everything we can to stop it. So join us on the demonstration. The bedroom tax protestors meet outside Thanet council offices in Cecil Street, Margate ever Tuesday at 11am. For more information call 07789961744 or 01843 298913.

A YOUTH football coach at Petts Wood FC has been charged after violence broke out among Millwall fans during an FA Cup semi-final.

LOCAL residents are angry with Bromley Council as it plans to double the size of a New Beckenham car park.

THE Thicket Tavern, an Anerley pub described as an "eyesore" that was a magnet for unsavoury characters and anti-social behaviour, has been stunningly transformed.

A MARGATE woman has been fined, after pleading guilty to a fly-tipping offence. Aimee Marsh, 29, of Shakespeare Road, appeared before Canterbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, May 7 and pleaded guilty to dumping 40 black and blue rubbish sacks on Shakespeare Road on November 7 last year. The sacks were traced to Miss Marsh's home by enforcement officers from Thanet council. In court Miss Marsh admitted she had not put her rubbish out for weeks and had just dumped it there. Miss Marsh was fined £250 with clean-up costs of £467.60. She was also ordered to pay £100 costs with a £25 victim surcharge. Councillor Michelle Fenner, cabinet member for business, corporate and regulatory services said: "The council does not tolerate fly-tipping and we will take action against those who do so. "Our enforcement officers work hard to catch those who litter our towns and villages, so it is encouraging to see outcomes like this. "We should take pride in our environment, and it is sad that people who carry out such offences do so at the risk of spoiling others. "If anyone sees any fly-tipping take place, I urge them to contact the council immediately." Councillor Alan Poole cabinet member for operational services added: "I am pleased to see successful cases like this. "We continue to prosecute whenever we can and hope that cases like this send a loud message of zero tolerance of fly-tipping and littering in general."

BROMLEY has seen an emergence of cleverly worded scams designed to rip people off by obtaining their personal financial details.

The Governing Body of the group which has taken over the commissioning of most healthcare in west Kent is meeting in Maidstone for the first time. 

At its meeting at the Village Hotel, Sandling on Tuesday 28 May, the Governing Body of NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group will hear about the performance of health services in west Kent and discuss plans for the future.

Members of the public are welcome to come along and observe and there will be an opportunity at the beginning for them to ask questions about items on the agenda.

The meeting on 28 May is at The Village Hotel, Forstal Road, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AQ, starting at 1.30pm.

The Governing Body meets every month and will in future alternate between Tonbridge and Maidstone.

For more information, please visit the CCG's website, at www.westkentccg.nhs.uk where the papers for each Governing Body meeting will be available seven days before the meeting.

Anyone who would like submit questions in advance is invited to email the CCG's Company Secretary, Richard Segall Jones, at richard.segall-jones@nhs.net

To get involved in shaping health services in this area, you can join the West Kent Health Network by emailing westkent.ccg@nhs.net or ask your practice about joining its patient participation group.

Background information 

NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has control of the £471million allocated by the Department of Health to buy most hospital, mental health and community services for the 463,730 people who live in the boroughs of Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the southern part of Sevenoaks district.

Its members are the 62 GP practices in the area. They have elected 12 GPs, including the chair, to the Governing Body, which is responsible for leading the work of the CCG on behalf of the member practices. It also includes a chief nurse, a hospital doctor, a public health specialist, two lay members, and senior health managers. 

THE distraught mother of a little girl from Forest Hill who drowned in a pool on holiday says the family has lost its "heartbeat".

   Wells visited Bexley's ground where, just as in similar circumstances in 2005 and 2012, a daunting home score was run up but the excellence of the surface prevented the bowling follow-through; the visitors' batsmen were able to hold out for a draw thanks largely to a late seventh partnership that lasted through all but fourteen of the last fifteen overs.
   Sandeep Baines (66) spearheaded a steady opening for Bexley that saw the score rise to the comfort of 153-1 from 34 overs, setting a solid platform upon which the remaining line-up could build. Baines notched three fours and a six in his 91-ball effort, as did Daniel Haley (41 from 73) as the first stand produced 83, followed by Jack Bell in a second partnership of 70. The Wells attack finally made inroads from here, Chris Fenwick (3-49) being the pick of the bowlers, with Michael Churchill (2-70) also on the scoresheet. Some indifferent calling led to two smart run-outs, and three bowling points were gathered in, while Bexley were able to ask the visitors to chase 242 for victory.
   The reply was also a very careful affair, as a basis for acceleration was laid by Jamie Baldwin (33) and Michael Waller (50) with an opening stand of 70 from twentyone overs. Shortly after, the home bowlers enjoyed an incisive spell during which five wickets tumbled for the addition of just 23 runs, and defeat for Wells loomed as a genuine possibility. However, James Hughes (32*) and Churchill (21) now defied the varied attack for almost the remainder of the match, the latter being bowled with seven balls to play out. This was duly achieved, and a Winning Draw was taken by Bexley while Wells came away with just six points, but slipped further to seventh spot in the Table. Waller reached a notable half-century from 97 balls, an obdurate effort which ended at 119-6 although by this time, victory had become a distant vision. Once more, these two sides completed a drawn match, by far the most common outcome from the past eight seasons.


'Scrutator'    Alan Cutts

   The Wells XI journeyed to Mayday Gardens where, having lost the toss, they were asked to take first knock, only to feel the impact of Chris Wood, who snared 5-28 from twelve straight overs, a performance which effectively decided the match as a contest.
   Mark Alexander (22) topscored for the visitors in what became a weak batting display, making his runs out of 27-4 after twelve overs. BJ Allatt and venerable stalwarts Peter Ford and Mark Thompson gave brief support to Mark Dekker as the innings petered out for an unworthy 75, taking up just 37.5 overs. The best partnership was one of 21 for the fifth wicket between Allatt and Dekker, although the tail tried gamely to wag, but it was a track that gave best to the home attack, and a straightforward target was left for Shooters Hill to make for victory. Wood was assisted by the three other bowlers used, Mukesh Raghvani netting 3-13 to become best of the rest.
   The reply was soon hit by Allatt (2-16), and wobbled to 11-1, with the number one opener retiring hurt a little later, but the total set was never truly beyond the home line-up despite a double strike to send the score to 69-3. The fifth pair brought up the win for no further loss and so Shooters Hill took the lion's share of the spoils. By virtue of this setback, Wells slipped to joint third in the table, four points off the lead, while their opponents leap-frogged past to take a share of top place.


'Scrutator'   Alan Cutts

THE toss went with the visitors, who elected to bat first on a cool afternoon, but Will Clark (4-50) struck for Wells early on as the score slid to an uneasy 25-3 after eleven overs. The Bexleyheath middle order was made of sterner stuff, however, and Michael Barker, followed by Steve Monk, supported Neil Alsemgeest (61) to take the total up to the relative safety of 161-5. For TWCC, Matthew Barker (3-23 from eleven probing overs) gave sterling assistance and pouched two alert catches as the youngsters of the home attack fought back into the match. Their high point came at 171-8 with seven overs to go, yet somehow the tail-enders inched their way to 206 all out from the very last ball of the allocation. The chase was all about young Barker, who kept one end safe as the Bexleyheath attack reduced the score to a sorry 49-7 in just twenty overs. Showing a sound defence allied to skilful placement, Barker batted throughout the innings for a remarkable 71 (125 balls and eight fours), and only the lower order effectively stayed with him. His namesake Michael Barker, for the visitors, bagged 3-26 while Stephen Wilkes did the major damage with 4-32, but there was a final twist to the tale : Clark (39) hit out fiercely in a cavalier ninth partnership that brought 66 runs from 12 overs and promised a hitherto faraway prospect of a share in the game. In this stand, Barker reached a memorable maiden fifty, until finally giving a catch to end the game with Wells 55 runs short. However, the margin was greatly more honourable than at one time had looked likely. Bexeyheath pocketed twenty points and Wells, again hit by availability problems, gathered a useful half a dozen, and are by no means out of the running. 'Scrutator'   Alan Cutts

Kent Regional - Championship West

Pembury 1st XI were outclassed by RASRA Eagles 1st XI as their woeful form at the Crofton Albion Ground continued for a further season in their second Championship West fixture of the season. With the lack of an umpire the visitors were invited to bat, and in the overcast conditions the impressive opening attack of Ganesh Ramdath and Patrick Dythe exploited the elements admirably with good use of seam and swing. Pembury had no answer to the excellent line and lengths of Dythe (2 for 18) off 12 overs, who proved to be the perfect foil for Ramdath (7 for 38) off 12 overs. Pembury all out for a woeful 64.

In reply RASRA understandably were keen on an early finish, as Pembury prepared for an onslaught from ball one. There was scant consolation for the visitors as both openers were removed by Richard Dawes (2 for 20) but this purely delayed the inevitable. This brought Colin Clarke (35 not out) to the wicket who in typical fashion tried to dispatch the ball to all parts of the ground, and despite a couple of scares he smashed his side to victory in just 9 overs.

Kent Regional - 2A West

Dartfordians CC 2nd XI – 210 for 6 (46 Overs) – Won by 116 runs

Pembury CC 2nd XI – 94 all out (33.4 Overs)

Sunday Friendly 

Sidcup CC Sunday Adhoc XI – 219 for 5 won by 118 runs

Pembury CC Sunday XI – 101 all out

A bad weekend at the office for all three Pembury senior sides, who will now be looking for an improvement in all aspects going forward as soon as possible.  

 

THE coastguard and emergency services were called to rescue a woman after she fell into the Ramsgate harbour in the early hours of Monday morning. The woman in her 40s fell from the harbour wall near The Royal pub and landed on the pontoon area. Paramedics treated the woman for back and neck pain before being taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. Police and Kent Fire and Rescue also attended the scene.

RAMSGATE RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched on Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17 to help two yachts with engine failure, off the coast of Ramsgate. On Thursday the lifeboat was launched at 4.50pm to help a yacht with two people on board. One person was suffering from seasickness, and due to the engine failure, the yacht was unable to make its way back to the harbour. On arrival at the scene the lifeboat crew checked the condition of the sick person and safely towed the yacht and its crew into the harbour. At 5.55pm on Friday the boat was launched again to assist a yacht just outside the harbour, which was unable to make a safe journey to the harbour, due to engine failure. The lifeboat towed the yacht safely into the harbour.

THOUSANDS of people enjoyed the tantalising smells and flavours of the Pantiles Food Festival in Tunbridge Wells. The open-air two day festival was heaving with people and the restaurants, cafes and bars were overflowing. The weather was perfect yesterday for alfresco eating and drinking and families with young children made the most of the town's oldest pedestrian quarter. Highlights included a sizzling seafood barbecue demonstration by restaurateur on The Bandstand, wine tasting with Jilly Goolden at the Tunbridge Wells Hotel and the wafting spicy aromas of the some of the town's Bangladeshi restaurant stands. The usual farmers' market was also ran both days and there were mouth-watering taster nibbles and drinks everywhere you turned. Sunday was very busy but organisers and stall-holders said it had been twice as busy on Saturday, taking half an hour to amble from one end of the colonnade to the other. Co-organiser Julian Leefe-Griffiths, who owns the Tunbridge Wells Hotel, joked: "Saturday was really, really busy. Terrifyingly busy." He said so many businesses and people had been involved behind the scenes to make the festival the "great success" it had been.

BINMEN are set to vote over whether to strike after rejecting a below inflation pay rise offer.

ST GEORGE'S school, Westwood Road, Broadstairs is closed today following a burst water pipe. The only students to attend school today (Monday) are those taking their GCSE examinations. Students taking their GCSE English Literature should arrive no later than 8.45am. Those who are taking their GCSE Business, RS and Biology 1 and 3 exams should arrive at the school no later than 12.30pm. The school is closed to all other students.

DETECTIVES are investigating the murder of a Kent man who was shot dead in Hove on Saturday night. The 31-year-old man was shot by a man as he walked along Church Road, at the junction of Selborne Road, in Hove on Saturday night. Church Road between First Avenue and Selborne Road was closed yesterday while forensics examined the murder scene. Leading the investigation detective chief inspector Ian Pollard, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "From the information we have received we don't believe this was a random attack. "The victim was in the street when he was shot in the body at about 11.30pm on Saturday. He was treated at the scene before being taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he sadly died in the early hours. "Two other men, who were with the victim, were also shot at by the man as they walking in the street. We are therefore treating this as a murder and two attempted murders. "Officers are in the area to assist the investigation and to speak to residents who may be concerned or worried. I recognise that the murder will be of considerable concern to the people of Brighton & Hove but I can assure them that this is an isolated incident. I have committed a number of resources to this investigation in an effort to find those responsible and bring them to justice." Anyone with information who has not come forward is urged to come forward to contact police on 101 quoting serial 1687 18/5 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."