KentOnline

A man who killed his partner’s puppies during a terrifying attack at their home in Ashford has been locked up for seven years.
The two cocker spaniels died last August at the hands of 34 year-old Jimmy Smith, who’s since moved to Thames Ditton in Surrey.
Our reporter talks us through what happened.
Also in today’s podcast, plans to create a new wedding venue in the grounds of an 18th century country house not far from Deal seem to have split opinion.
Hear from some residents living near Ripple Court who are worried about noise disruption and extra traffic.
A decision on the proposal is due later this week.
Elsewhere, nurses in Kent have begun the first of two-days of strike action in a row over pay.
Thousands are walking across the country amid concerns under-funding and staff shortages are causing a crisis in the NHS.
We speak to two members of staff who want wages to keep up with rising inflation.
And in football, the new owner of Gillingham has told the KentOnline Podcast they could move to a new stadium in future.
Priestfield has been their home since the 1890s when they were known as New Brompton.
But Brad Galinson – who’s been chatting with our sports reporter Luke Cawdell – says there are options moving forward.
 

Shoppers at Aldi in Sheerness have been left in tears after being wrongly accused of stealing by staff.
The supermarket’s been carrying out bag searches following a rise in shoplifting, but has admitted not always doing so correctly.
Also in today’s podcast, plans for a new reservoir in Kent, that’s designed to secure water supplies, have gone on show.
Bosses want to build the facility in Broad Oak near Canterbury.
They say it would hold up to five billion litres of water and could be operational by as early as 2033.
In football, the new owner of Gillingham has been revealing his plans for the club after watching them win for the first time since his takeover.
Their 2-0 win over Hartlepool at Priestfield at the weekend has given fans hope of League Two survival – which unsurprisingly is Brad Galinson’s immediate aim.
 

The new owner of Gillingham Football Club has been speaking to the KentOnline Podcast about why he bought the club and his plans for the future.
It was announced just two days before Christmas that Brad Galinson had completed his takeover at Priestfield.
His money is already being spent with new signings joining the squad during the January transfer window as the side looks to avoid relegation from the football league.
Our sports reporter Luke Cawdell has been speaking to the man whose name has already been chanted by the fans.

A Ramsgate women who groomed a teenage boy into a sexual relationship has avoided being sent to prison.A court was told 28-year-old Nicole Lines from Cecelia Road supplied the teenager with alcohol and sold him cannabis.Also in today’s podcast, we’re getting another blast of freezing weather this winter with forecasters saying temperatures will struggling to get much above zero for the rest of the week.Hear from Toby Howe from the county’s highways team on how the roads will be kept clear of frost and ice.A serving armed police officer who served in the same unit as Sarah Everard’s killer, has admitted dozens of attacks on women – including 24 rapes.PC David Carrick was based in London at the same time as Wayne Couzens from Deal and had been charged with offences spanning 18 years.A mother who lost her son to suicide has helped educate more than 100 medical students in Kent and Medway about how to help those who are thinking of taking their own life.Ann Foley lost her son Oliver when he was just 22. She’s been talking to Ismail Khwaja about the charity set up in his name and what it aims to do.An Ashford company says it’s not sure it’ll be able to carry on trading because of major traffic delays.Work is being done on the A2070 where the Orbital Park roundabout is being replaced to improve access to a new housing development.In sport, the Gillingham manager has been speaking following their 2-0 win against fellow strugglers Hartlepool at the weekend.And in tennis, Kent’s Emma Raducanu is through to the second round of the Australian Open – find out who she’ll play.

An abusive boyfriend from Canterbury who forced his partner to kiss her children goodbye – and scrawled on a wall ‘mummy is dead tonight’ – has been sent to prison.
A court heard Jake Jones also repeatedly strangled his victim after thinking she was texting another man. Hear from our reporter Sean Axtell who covered the case.
Also in today’s podcast, three months after a man was found dead in woodland in Ashford, his identity and cause of death still remains a mystery.
A leading Kent GP says he’s seeing colleagues who are struggling to cope as extreme pressure on the NHS continues.
The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments in the county has reached record levels. Now, there are concerns about the stress it’s causing amongst health staff.
A Medway mechanic says he’s being contacted by an increasing number of people whose cars have been damaged by potholes.
The roads have been left in a poor state by the snow in December and the recent heavy rain. Hear from some drivers who have been affected.
A foundation has been set up by a Kent woman who says she wants to help people with their self confidence if they’re going through something like cancer treatment.
Chemotherapy leaves patients without their hair and eye brows. We’ve been speaking to Sophie Dodds from SD Cosmetics in Herne Bay.
Our What’s On editor Sam Lawrie is back with details on events going on in the county.
And in sport, it’s a huge relegation clash for Gillingham this weekend.
They welcome fellow strugglers Hartlepool to Priestfield as they look to avoid dropping out of the football league.

More weddings have been cancelled after a second hotel in Kent announced it was closing.
Couples due to have a ceremony at The Blue Pigeons in Worth have been told to find another venue.
It comes just a day after a hotel in Tonbridge announced it was closing at the end of the month – hear from the owner of a venue that’s managed to step in and help some of the grooms and brides-to-be.
Also in today’s podcast, figures show hundreds of patients are being kept in hospitals in Kent even though they’re well enough to be discharged.
In the first week of December, 3,500 beds across the county were being taken up by people who didn’t need to be there.
Charities have raised concerns about whether the human rights of asylum seekers in the UK are being met.
Politicians have been told 35,000 refugees are currently being kept in hotels after crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats.
The Podcast has been told talks will take place with the new man in charge of Kent police on how to reduce the pressure on officers.
We told you in yesterday’s episode how a survey’s revealed 1 in 6 are considering resigning from the force within the next two years. Hear from the chair of the Kent Police Federation.
The £1million transformation of a stretch of Canterbury’s high street into a leafy boulevard is expected to get under way next week.
Shoppers are likely to see contractors moving onto the site in St George’s Street on Monday, ahead of the six-month redevelopment.
And in sport, Gillingham’s game against Crawley Town next month has sold out – after the club announced the tickets were ‘pay what you can’.
They’re fighting for survival in the football league and will now have a packed Priestfield on February, 4.

Almost 40 weddings due to take place at a hotel in Kent have been cancelled after bosses announced it is closing at the end of the month.
Hear from reporter Sean McPolin who has been speaking to devastated couples who were due to get married at Hadlow Manor Hotel in Tonbridge.
Also in today’s podcast, figures Shelter show Dartford and Swale have some of the highest homelessness rates in the south east.
Across both areas, more than 1,600 people are living on the streets or in temporary accommodation.
Ambulance workers in Kent have been striking again today.
It’s the second time members of the GMB Union have walked out in a dispute over pay and conditions.
A new report out today suggests one in six police officers in Kent are planning to resign in the next two years.
80% of staff who responded to a survey say they are unhappy with current pay, and the vast majority don’t feel respected by the government. We have reaction from Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
An independent art school in Kent, that’s described as being a major community asset, is just weeks away from having to close.
The Margate School is Thanet’s largest creative art provider and has been told it needs to raise £50,000 by the end of the month. We’ve been speaking to their director.
Hear from a Kent farmer who’s calling on the government to provide more clarity over new plans to encourage environmentally friendly projects.
And in sport, Gillingham have made their first January signing – and second under new owner Brad Galinson.
Find out who’s joining the squad at Priestfield and what’s being done to encourage more fans along.

A children’s doctor has admitted arranging to meet a teenage boy in the grounds of a Kent hospital.Salman Siddiqi – who’s 44 and an intensive care paediatrician – was arrested at Margate’s QEQM on Sunday following a sting by an amateur detective.
Also in today’s podcast, a carer from Aylesford who stole more than £17,000 from elderly people, then spent it on hundreds of items on Amazon, has been jailed.Hear from Paul Hooper who is our reporter at Maidstone Crown Court.A Medway man who credits Prince Harry with saving his life through the military games he set up, has told the podcast he fears the prince is suffering from PTSD.The Duke of Sussex’s book, Spare, is out today and details his time while serving in Afghanistan. Hear from Darren Young who competed at the Invictus Games.We’ve also been speaking to a Kent driving instructor who is calling for examiners to work seven days a week to try and clear the current backlog.Thousands of students are still waiting to take a test after delays built up during the pandemic.Experts are being brought in to help victims of stalking and hate crime in Kent.It’s part of a new four year deal which will see Victim Support given a million pounds a year. Kent’s police and crime commissioner as been explaining more.And, the landlords of a popular Kent pub have announced their selling up after 26 years of pulling pints.Ray and Sandra Cottingham say they plan to spend more time with their family after handing over the keys to The Black Lion in Appledore near Ashford.

An Amazon delivery driver has been banned from getting behind the wheel after crashing his van into a ditch while over the drink drive limit.
Radu Vulpe, 34 from Hawkhurst, had been heading home from his delivery rounds when he hit a road sign in Staplehurst last November.
Also in today’s podcast, talks have been taking place today to try and resolve ongoing strike action that’s been affecting services in Kent.
The walkouts in recent months may have prevented you from travelling by train or receiving post on time. Hear from a member of the RMT in Medway.
It’s the first business Monday of the new year which usually means it’s the day family lawyers get the most enquiries about couples splitting up.
“Divorce Day” sees those who have struggled over the festive period reach out for advice. We’ve been speaking to an expert from Whitehead Monckton solicitors in Maidstone.
A TikTok star who’s gone viral for his scathing reviews of Kent towns has been chatting to the KentOnline Podcast.
Phil Carr has over 440,000 followers on the social media platform. We caught up with him during a trip to Margate.
It’s also a big day for the town as Empire of Light is out in cinemas.
It was filmed in and around Dreamland. Hear from stars Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Toby Jones and director Sam Mendes who was in Kent yesterday for a special screening.
And in football, we’ve been catching up with the Gillingham manager following their exit from the FA Cup.
Priestfield was sold out for the game against premier league side Leicester City.

A drug-driver from Faversham who left three people injured in a crash has been locked up and given a driving ban.
Jacob Luton repeatedly drove past his former partner while shouting abuse out of the window of the car in February last year.
The 19-year-old from Herne Hill lost control of the vehicle which hit a tree before flipping over.
Also in today’s podcast, as a Russian ceasefire begins in Ukraine, we’ve been speaking to a Sittingbourne man who’s delivering aid near the frontline.
Brian Grove has spent the last few days taking medical supplies and generators to villages that are being attacked.
A stretch of the M20 is going to be closed overnight so Operation Brock can be deactivated.
It was put in place over Christmas and New Year to reduce disruption if there were delays crossing the Channel.
It’s feared more parents will book cheaper holidays during term time this year because of the cost of living crisis.
It’s thought more than a quarter in the south east will be prepared to pay the fine for taking their child out of school – because it’ll still work out less expensive. We’ve been speaking to Kent based company Holiday Extras.
Find out where in Kent has been named one of the best places in the UK for a romantic getaway.
And in sport, we look ahead to Gillingham’s huge game in the FA Cup this weekend.
They welcome premier league side Leicester City to Priestfield tomorrow.