Episodes
The daughter of a terminally ill Maidstone woman whose pain medication was stolen by a carer has spoken out after her sentencing.Lisa Cook's mother was undergoing treatment for breast cancer when she noticed tablets were going missing.Owners of a family-run restaurant in Staplehurst say they are frustrated and disheartened after allegedly falling victim to a large 'dine and dash'.A family of eight have been accused of leaving just £30 for a meal which should have cost almost £300 - we've been speaking to the restaurants regional manager.A reporter for KentOnline has shared her story followi...
A driver claims his life has been ruined after getting a ban for speeding on the A20 in north Kent when the limit was changed.A temporary limit was brought in between Crittalls Corner and the Swanley Interchange in October 2023. Thomas Wood lost his job after getting nine fines and a six month suspension.Also in today's podcast, a former gang member's told KentOnline a ban on ninja swords should have come into force much sooner.From August it'll be illegal to own or sell the weapons - we've been speaking to Lennox Rodgers who runs Refocus in Dartford.A grieving dad who's converting a buildi...
Two teenagers have been arrested following a stabbing in Ashford town centre.It prompted a huge emergency response in the Bank Street area last night where two men were found injured.Also in today's podcast, a Kent politician who has been suspended by his party after a drunken tirade says he's worried about the impact on his future.Reform UK's William Fotheringham-Bray, who was chairman of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey branch, made the video lashing out at another member.The RBLI is hosting it's annual Chairman's Sleep Out in Kent tonight in the hopes of raising money and awareness to tackl...
The only road through Britain's smallest town near Canterbury is set to shut for six months.It's so repairs can be carried out on a £1 million Grade II listed house in Fordwich, but there are fears the 6,000 drivers who use the route will be forced onto the A28 Sturry Road instead, causing congestion.Also on today's episode, a new road link between Kent and Essex is a step closer to being built.The government's given planning permission to the Lower Thames Crossing which will connect the A2 with the A13 and includes a new tunnel under the River Thames.Hear from Dartford MP Jim Dickson, Nata...
A drug driver who crashed into another vehicle near Ramsgate leaving a man with life-changing injuries has been sent to prison.The 29-year-old pulled out onto a roundabout on the A256 without stopping and was later found to have cocaine in his system.Also in today's podcast, nearly 400 jobs at Morrisons are at risk after they announced closures, including two in Kent.The Daily store in Tonbridge is set to go along with the Market Kitchen facility in Gravesend.The KentOnline podcast has been told a programme to try and stamp out under age vaping in part of Kent is already showing signs of wo...
A Thanet teenager has revealed how her life was turned upside down after she was secretly filmed in the shower by her bother-in-law.Andrew Veck, 33, set up his phone to record her in the bathroom - he was later found to also be in possession of indecent images of children.Also in today's podcast, changes to the government's childcare funding due to come into force next month have been slammed by providers in Kent.Eligibility for 15 funded hours extends to children as young as nine months old - and that will rise to 30 hours come September. We've been speaking to Charlotte Roles who's the de...
A woman in her 20s has been seriously injured in an attack in Broadstairs.Emergency crews were called to Guy Close in the St Peters part of town last night. Hear from reporter Brad Harper who was also there.Also in today's podcast, a former SEN headteacher says becoming a foster carer to children with additional needs has revealed how much parents have to fight for support.Sharon O'Connor used to be in charge at Ripplevale in Deal which was rated outstanding during her time there. She's now helping to launch an app to help other mums and dads.We're being urged to help wildlife in Kent by ta...
It's feared an unfinished housing estate in Dover could become a ghost town after the developers behind it went bust.29 properties were being built in Maxton, which is just to the west of the town, by Enzo's Homes. Hear from reporter Louis Walker who has been following the story.A Kent MP says a new Netflix drama should be used to educate young people.Adolescence is about a 13-year-old boy who's arrested on suspicion of murdering a girl at his school. Chatham and Aylesford's Tris Osborne was a teacher before being elected last summer and has been speaking to the podcast.Meantime, the MP for...
Masked raiders have stolen £100,000 worth of stock from a wholesalers in Medway.At least eight people are thought to have cut their way into the industrial estate unit in Chatham in the early hours of last Wednesday. Hear from reporter Sean McPolin who has been covering the story.Also in today's podcast, a woman who was tied up during a violent robbery in Sevenoaks has described it as an "horrific experience".A man armed with a gun stole nearly £1.5 million worth of jewellery from a property in Parkfield near Wildernesse Golf Club last June.The work and pensions secretary's confirmed person...
A Kent secondary school is considering making all pupils wear trousers, following complaints about girls in short skirts.The head of The Whitstable School has sent a letter to parents about plans for a gender-neutral uniform.Alex Holmes states that local residents and businesses have complained about 'inappropriate skirt lengths' particularly when pupils are outside the school grounds.Also in today's podcast, there are calls for a review of the ban on the use of laughing gas, with one Kent councillor saying it's stopping people seeking medical help.Using nitrous oxide for its psychoactive e...
A court has heard a cocaine addict was so “out of it” on the school run that members of the public took her car keys and walked her children to class.Other parents became concerned when he stopped her car in the middle of the road – the judge told her it was one of the worst cases of drug driving he’d ever seen. Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from a GP after a new study laid bare the extent to which Kent’s youngsters have become addicted to nicotine through vaping.A survey of 5,493 pupils at 33 schools in the county showed that around 10% are current vapers.A developer has closed a “...
The ambulance service has apologised after a Canterbury man with a fractured eye socket had to get a taxi to hospital.Lee Newman had been out clubbing with friends at Club Chemistry and was attacked as he walked home.Also in today's podcast, a Canterbury woman who killed her husband then hid his body in their garden has been convicted of murder.A court heard Jeremy Rickards had suffered injuries from weeks of domestic abuse before he was killed last summer. Hear the moment his wife was arrested and from police who's spoken outside court.Two children's centres in Kent that were facing closur...
Car park visits in two Kent coastal towns have dropped by more than 30,000 since “eye-watering” fee hikes were imposed last year. New figures reveal a slump across sites in Whitstable and Herne Bay following the decision to increase hourly rates to as much as £3.70 in April.Also in today’s podcast, a former lifeguard who “violently” shook a toddler he was babysitting and punched his legs and hips has been jailed.He faced a child cruelty charge after he was seen by his then partner hurting the 18-month-old boy in his own home in Sittingbourne in August 2023. A bomb squad has descended on a r...
The extraordinary life of a secret Kent millionaire has been unearthed following revelations about her amazing generosity which is set to benefit thousands of people across the county.She lived in a modest 1970s semi-detached home in Whitstable but gifted her considerable wealth to numerous local good causes after she died in 2022 aged 98.Also in today’s podcast, Kent County Council transport bosses say they shouldn’t be blamed for roadworks across the county because they’re not their fault. While there seem to be endless traffic jams and road closures in Kent, the authority’s officials and...
Two teenagers have been convicted for their role in an attack on a 16-year-old boy who suffered life-changing injuries after being chased onto train tracks in Thanet.Ted Warne-Harvey was electrocuted after falling onto a live rail at Westgate station.Also on today's podcast, a 12 week inquiry into plans to build thousands of new homes near Sittingbourne gets underway today.The Highsted Park development is made up of eight-thousand-four-hundred houses, and other infrastructure, as well as a new M2 motorway junction and a Southern Relief Road.A Folkestone woman who's in remission after having...
Podcast: KentOnline investigation exposes serious flaws with Canterbury's anti-terror bollard system
A KentOnline investigation has uncovered serious flaws with the anti-terror system designed to protect the centre of Canterbury.We found bollards that were installed to stop vehicles getting into the pedestrianised zone either weren't working, or could be easily by passed.Hear from reporter Brad Harper and Chris Phillips who's the former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office.Also in today's podcast, a couple have revealed how they were blindfolded and held for more than two days in Iran after travelling from Kent back to New Zealand.Pete and Janelle O'Keeffe decided to go o...
A business owner who spent £300,000 renovating his town centre shop is calling for compensation after being ordered to leave.He says he used his life savings to the store in Park Mall, but council say the whole mall will be demolished early next year to make way for a car park - and has given all traders six months to leave.Also in today’s podcast, you can hear about a drunk partygoer who stole a woman’s Mercedes before crashing it into a tree, fence and wall - causing thousands of pounds of damage.The smash left a trail of destruction in Broadstairs but by the time the officers arrived on ...
It's been revealed more than £4 million worth of taxpayers' money was spent on plans for a new development near Folkestone which never materialised.Bosses in the previous administration wanted to build 150 homes and a leisure centre at Princes Parade in Hythe, but the proposals were later scrapped. Hear from Jim Martin who is the current leader of the council.A Kent homelessness charity's revealed a 21% increase in demand for their services in the space of a year.Footfall at Catching Lives in Canterbury has gone up from around 11,000 in 2023, to more than 13,300 last year. We've been chatti...
Two men who kidnapped a drunk woman from a bar with the intention of sexually assaulting her are facing lengthy spells behind bars.They were caught on camera as they dragged and carried their limp victim away from Clique in Ramsgate's Harbour Parade to a property in nearby Kent Terrace.Also in today’s podcast, a car enthusiast has been laid to rest on what would have been his 21st birthday after he died in a tragic accident.The young man from Tonbridge was killed when the car he was working on slipped off the jack and crushed him.There are fears three months of closures at a crossroads at H...
A Kent campsite has been given permission to extend its opening hours - despite concern from people living nearby over noise.Lilyroos Glamping near Deal will be able to welcome visitors for 11 months of the year, instead of just seven. Hear from reporter Louis Walker who has been following the story.Also in today's podcast, an inquiry into the deaths of at least 27 people who died when their small boat capsized in the Channel has begun. Evidence is being heard to find out what lessons can be learned from the tragedy as the vessel made its way to Kent in November 2021.Bosses at a dental surg...
Star of The Apprentice, Johnny Heaver, has taken to TikTok to explain his facial scars..The 23-year-old from Deal is still in the process and is hoping to become Lord Sugar's next business partner, but his appearance has prompted speculation online. He now says he wants to set the record straight.Also in today's podcast, the sister of an artist who was murdered by a man she didn't know in Thanet has called for more action to tackle violence against women.Claire Knights was attacked as she walked her dog in Birchington in August 2023 and her body was found two days later.Killer Harrison Law...
A “caring and loving” young man who was “always there for anyone” died after suffering hypothermia and drowning in a river.An inquest has heard 25-year-old Regan Phillips disappeared after enjoying a night out with work colleagues in Rochester. Also in today’s podcast, sickening footage shows the moment a cruel teen holds up a dead seagull by its wings “like a trophy” after it was reportedly killed with a catapult.The youth posed with the bird outside a church in Ashford while another boy captures the moment on his mobile phone.A salon boss says her plans for a new development will breathe ...
Traders in a shopping centre in Ashford say a decision to demolish the site is "brutal"...The council have announced the closure-hit Park Mall centre will be temporarily replaced with a car park, while plans are considered for its redevelopment.Also in today's podcast, campaigners against a new road tunnel linking Kent and Essex have suggested a rail route instead.They have been setting out alternatives to the Lower Thames Crossing which they say will be smarter and cheaper.A coroner's ruled the death of a 22 year-old Ashford man who was hit by a train in Australia was a tragic accident.Luk...
The family of a sub-postmistress “shunned in the street” after being convicted of stealing thousands from the branch she ran hope to finally prove her innocence 27 years on.Pat Owen was found guilty of theft from the post office near Canterbury in 1998 despite denying she had anything to do with a £6,000 shortfall in its accounts.Also in today’s podcast, council bosses have confirmed a closure-hit shopping centre and neighbouring multi-storey car park are to be knocked down.Traders at the site in Ashford have been told they need to vacate the site by August 31 ahead of demolition work.A man...
The Queen is in Kent today to unveil a statue of a heroine of English literature, credited with being the first full-time professional woman writer. Her Majesty arrived in Canterbury high street to reveal the bronze figure Aphra Behn – who was born to a Kent barber in the 17th Century, and then went on to lead an extraordinary life.Also in today’s podcast, a high-flying university graduate is facing a lengthy spell behind bars for causing a man’s death in a horror crash in Dover. He was speeding and on the wrong side of the road when he collided almost head-on with a taxi, killing the rear-...
A police sergeant caught naked near a children’s play park has been spared a criminal conviction after prosecutors rejected appeals for him to face more serious charges. He’s escaped with just a caution after he was spotted by shocked dog walkers loitering with no clothes on in woodland in Chatham.Also in today’s podcast, an inquest has heard a father of two was killed in a crash caused by speed, the damp road surface and the condition of his tyres.He died last September on the A2 after he lost control of his black Vauxhall and smashed into the central barrier and a bridge parapet.A plannin...
It has emerged the debt-ridden University of Kent has splashed out £20,000 on a canopy just weeks after it was revealed it is paying £7,000 a month for an empty bar.Students at the Medway campus have been left unimpressed with the newly-built shelter - labelling it “worthless” and a “waste of money”.Also in today’s podcast, there’s been an update on investigations into a fatal shooting which happened outside a village pub on Valentine’s Day. You can hear from Kent Police who say the body of the man suspected of carrying out the attack has been seen in the water.The terrifying moment a maske...
A 39-year-old dad-of-four has been given the “crushing” news he has just 18 months to live as the cancer he hoped he had defeated has returned and spread.The Kent community has rallied to support Matt Jones following the devastating diagnosis, which has left him fearing his youngest children will “not even remember me when I’m gone”.Also in today’s podcast, investigators have given an update following the shooting murder of a woman in Knockholt on Valentine’s Day.Lisa Smith was gunned down outside a pub and police now believe her attacker has also died.Villagers have been left stunned after...
A trial has heard a Canterbury woman fatally stabbed her estranged husband repeatedly in the chest and through the heart, before storing his body - dressed in his underwear - in a cupboard in her bedroom.The discovery of the 65-year-old's remains was made on July 11 last year after a police officer investigating his disappearance and experienced in homicide enquiries recognised a distinctive "sickly smell" emanating from foliage.Also in today’s podcast, reports of anti-social behaviour have dropped across Kent, but is still an issue for some towns.You can hear from a business owner in Thane...
A dad who's been described as a 'true gentleman' has died in a house fire in Canterbury.Ian Jameson and his two dogs were discovered at the property in Hersden on Friday night, now a fundraiser has been set up to support his family.Also in today's podcast, CCTV from near to where a woman was shot outside a Kent pub on Valentine's Day has emerged.43 year-old Lisa Smith from Slough suffered fatal injuries near the Three Horseshoes in Knockholt last Friday night.Figures show Kent Police have recorded more than 1,600 cases of child sex abuse images in the space of a year.That's more than 4 ever...