KentOnline

A treasurer who stole more than £37,000 from a Kent pre-school has avoided being sent to prison.
Kerry Goldsmith, 49 of Laurence Close, Bapchild, was taking the money from the Owl and pussycat pre-school in the village near Sittingbourne.
The charity chairperson has spoken to the KentOnline Podcast about the impact it’s had.
Also in today’s episode, there are more calls for the result of Covid surge testing in part of Kent to be made public.
A mum shares her experience of having a baby during the pandemic.
And in sport, we hear from the Gillingham manager following their 1-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.

The owners of a soft play centre that has only been able to open for six weeks in the past year, are calling for support to be made available in next week’s budget.
Elizabeth and Andrew Moody run Adventure Kidz in Aylesford which has been shut during most of the pandemic.
The roadmap out of lockdown announced yesterday by the Prime Minister will see them have to stay closed until at least May.
Also in today’s podcast, a leading Kent scientist says he hopes the roadmap will prevent future lockdowns.
Hear from Ella Henderson and Tom Grennan who’ve been chatting to our sister radio station kmfm.
And we look ahead to Gillingham’s game at AFC Wimbledon tonight.

The Prime Minister has set out the government’s roadmap for coming out of lockdown.
As expected, Boris Johnson has confirmed all schools will reopen on March 8.
Other key dates for venues to reopen and more socialising to happen have been announced between now and June.
But, it’s only if certain criteria linked to Covid data are met.
Also in today’s podcast, hear from the boys who have already passed GCSE maths several years early.
Gillingham’s assistant boss reacts to their win over Bristol Rovers at the weekend.
And we hear from one of the Kent cricketers on training during lockdown.

12 people have been arrested following police raids in Kent and London tackling the exploitation of sex workers.
Officers have searched eight properties in areas including Canterbury and Maidstone this week.
Also in the podcast, a foster carer in Medway says she ‘doesn’t feel at all safe’ – because she is not classed as a ‘critical worker’.
And, financial help is on the way for grassroots sports clubs after being heavily affected by the pandemic. 

A Kent MP has suggested care home visits could go ahead even if residents have not yet received their second Covid-19 vaccine.
Helen Whately, Faversham and Mid Kent MP and Social Care minister, said she is determined to restart face-to-face visits as the UK begins to ease out of the third lockdown.
Also in the podcast, hear from a scientist who says there’s no data to show crowded beaches last summer led to any coronavirus outbreaks.
The brother of a woman who died in a car crash on the A21 is calling for an urgent safety inspection so others do not suffer the same fate. 
And, occasional users of DART Charge are losing money due to a sudden cancellation of their logins. 

Residents in Maidstone are still awaiting results from Covid-19 surge testing in the area, which was completed more than 10 days ago.
A council leader says he was told that analysis to see if they were the South African variant would take four days – but only around a quarter have been sequenced so far. 
Also in the podcast, a man has been convicted after spitting at a traffic warden and claiming he had coronavirus.
And, we look at the three Kent football teams considering putting players and staff on furlough unless they get extra funding.

A woman who was sentenced to six years in prison for her involvement in the murder of a man has spoken about how a charity has helped turn her life around.
Mundill Mahil’s future fell apart after luring a man to her student digs, who was beaten in her bedroom by two ‘hitmen’ before being burned to death in the boot of a car.
She tells us about life on the inside and the work she is now doing to help rehabilitate women offenders.
Also in the podcast, a Kent academy boss says marquees could be the answer to social distancing in classrooms when schools return.
74 people are fined at the weekend for breaching Covid rules – hear the moment officers confront four people in a car in Chatham all from different households.
And a 100-year-old woman gets emotional after receiving nearly 200 cards wishing her happy birthday. 

Kent’s health bosses are reminding parents not to break lockdown rules this half term, and to stay local if they plan on going out during the break – hear from Medway’s director of public health, James Williams. 
Also in today’s podcast, we find out why there are calls to close a military barracks housing asylum seekers in Folkestone.
Dover Athletic announce they won’t be playing any more National League games without being offered a funding package.
And, hear from the 16-year-old author who wrote and publish her first novel during lockdown. 

The number of people in hospital in Kent being treated for coronavirus has fallen significantly over the past month.
Figures also show the infection rate in the county is continuing to drop as lockdown 3 continues.
But, with half term taking place next week, there’s a warning not to break the rules – hear from Medway’s director of public health, James Williams.
Also in today’s podcast we have details on how much council tax we’re going to have to pay from April.
Find out why there’s a call for more young people in the county to consider a career in dentistry.
And hear about the man who’s been showering in his garden – despite the snow and freezing temperatures – brrrrrr.

The boss of Britain’s oldest brewery, based in Faversham, wants pubs to be able to reopen at Easter – and without any social distancing.
Shepherd Neame’s chief executive says the industry has been hit incredibly hard by the pandemic.
While the government’s primary objective has been to save lives and protect the NHS, Jonathan Neame says in the not too distant future it will be time to save jobs and save livelihoods.
Also in today’s podcast, it’s thought the Kent strain of coronavirus could soon be the world’s most dominant – we speak to a University of Kent professor.
Find out why this week’s cold snap might not happen so much in future.
And, hear the moment a Chatham man wins the car of his dream after entering an online competition.