Podcast: Mum repeatedly stabbed in front of her children in New Romney speaks out as attacker spared jail

A mum left with “scars to body and mind” after being repeatedly stabbed in front of her children has spoken of her feelings of injustice after the woman who attacked her walked from court.

Makala O’Brien told KentOnline that Carrie-Ann Kilshaw, herself a mother of eight and someone she knew, should have been jailed for the unprovoked assault outside her home in New Romney two years ago.

Also in today’s podcast, a childcare worker on Sheppey has spoken to the KentOnline Podcast after seeing a jump in demand for places since the funding rules were changed.  

Since September, parents have been able to access 30 hours a week of free care for children older than nine months – the boss of Teddy Bear Day Care says she’s opening a second site as her waiting list gets longer. 

We’ve been told there’s been a significant rise in the number of animals being abandoned in Kent – and charity bosses are concerned.

More than 600 pets were dumped in the county in the first 10 months of this year – up almost 6 percent on the same time in 2024.

Donations are continuing to pour in for our sister station kmfm’s Give A Gift campaign.

The appeal aims to deliver toys to thousands of children across the county who’ll be spending Christmas in hospital, living in care or facing difficult circumstances – you can hear from one of the charities which will benefit. 

And in football, Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has urged his side to become more ruthless after being held to a home draw by Barnet.

The Gills picked up a point after Bradley Dack equalised at the end of the first half with a well-hit free-kick, but they were unable to make the most of their opportunities from open play, as the match finished 1-1.

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