Investigations are now underway after a driver was killed in a serious crash which closed a busy route in both directions.
The black vehicle was travelling on the coastbound carriageway of the A2 in the early ours of this morning when it collided with a central barrier and a bridge parapet.
Also in today’s podcast, a police sergeant who stripped naked and masturbated near a play park in Chatham has been sacked.
The 51-year-old admitted taking pictures of himself performing the indecent act after he “crawled” into a wooded area.
A violent thug who punched his mum and ex-girlfriend has admitted his behaviour was “disgraceful”.
The unemployed 24-year-old was drunk at the time of the attack in Dover and when he woke up in a police cell claimed he could not remember what he had done.
A Dartford man who thought he just need a bit of a rest has had his arms and legs amputated and part of his nose has been eaten away after he developed sepsis.
The father of three took a few days off work and could never could have imagined that four months later he would have lost all his limbs and be waiting for surgery to rebuild his face.
And you can hear from residents who have welcomed the proposed overhaul of a leisure centre – but say while upgrades are needed it will be a shame to see the loss of the “fun bits”.
The renovation of Tides Leisure Centre in Deal comes with lots of new inclusions, but would also mean the loss of the existing wave pool, flume, smaller slides and sauna room.
"Can't online news. News you can trust. This is the Can't online podcast. Kate Faulkner." Hello, I'm P.E.R.O.K. Thank you for downloading today's podcast on Thursday, September 26th. In just a moment, we'll hear from Lucy about a can police officer who's been sacked for misconduct. We'll also hear from a maid stone woman who says an organ transplant has saved her life, but first taking a look at our top story today. One person has died following a serious crash on the A2 which closed the busy route for hours in both directions. Nicola has the details for the Can't online podcast. Well, emergency services were called to part of the A2 near the M2 junction just after 2.30 this morning. A black VW Tiguan was travelling in the coastbound carriageway near the slip road for the A289, which heads towards Wayne Scott, when it collided with the central barrier and a bridge parapet. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a 29-year-old man was confirmed dead at the scene and his family have been told. A specialist structural engineer had to be called to assess damage to the lamp posts as well as the central reservation barrier and bridge supports, which were also struck in the collision. Now, motorists who were in the area at the time and have not spoken to the police, so being urged to come forward, investigators also want to speak to anyone with dash cam footage. Another of our top stories today, a Kent police officer has been sacked after he stripped naked and started masturbating near a play park in Chatham. Monster say police sergeant Simon Ince has brought discredit to the force and has damaged public trust and confidence. Lucy has been following this story for the Can't online podcast. She joins me now. Lucy, I know it's a bit of a delicate topic, but what do we know about Sergeant Ince's actions? Well, we know on September 5th, 2023, the 51-year-old crawled into a wooded area in Vail Drive in Chatham. He took off his clothes and started performing an indecent act and even took pictures of himself while he was doing it. The case was brought before senior officers, who said children playing in a nearby park could have easily entered the same area and witnessed his actions. The PC, who was based at Maidstone Police Station, admitted to the offences in an interview and later agreed his actions amounted to misconduct. And how did the allegations come to light? Well, it was from the photos he took of himself. They were uncovered in February this year, which led to the investigation. It was concluded he had acted to seek sexual gratification through masturbating in public. Sergeant Ince made it clear that he deliberately crawled into a densely wooded area where he could not be seen and later tried to excuse some of his behaviour. It's understood that because no one saw the offences taking place, there's not enough evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue criminal charges. And I understand he's now been dismissed without notice. Yes, that's right. The investigation found that the fact he took steps to hide from view isn't enough to justify his behaviour. It was agreed the public would take a very dim view of a police sergeant choosing to perform a sexual act in a public place. The actions of PC Ince, who lives in Yarrow Road in the town, fell below the standards expected and the only reasonable outcome was for him to be dismissed without notice. He's also been placed on the Bard List to provide further protection to the public. Thanks, Lucy. Kent Online News A Kent man who murdered a woman in London has refused to appear in court for a hearing over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a prison worker from Strewd. 31-year-old Jordan McSweeney is serving time for killing Zara Alina in Ilford in 2022. He told prison staff he couldn't be bothered to join the video link to Woolwich Crown Court. The case has been adjourned until October 31st. An inquest is opened into the death of a man who killed his grandmother near Tunbridge Wells. 24-year-old John Squires was arrested after Sandra, who's 82, died at their home in Bright Ridge in Southbrook last month. He also suffered stab wounds and passed away in hospital. A full inquest will be held next February. Two men from Rochester have been sentenced for their part in a complex mobile phone fraud in Kent. Offenders are using stolen details to order handsets that are delivered to confused residents by legitimate courier companies. A fraudster turns up minutes later saying there's been a mistake and takes the phone to sell on. The 42- and 44-year-olds got suspended sentences. A Kent man is expected to be released from prison within days despite pleading guilty to repeatedly punching his mum and girlfriend in a drunken attack. Jordan Lemoon also lashed out at two other people at a home in Dover in July. The 24-year-old from Binden Blood Road was sentenced to 24 weeks but has already served half that time in custody. He's also been ordered to pay his victims more than £150. A man has been banned from Ashford High Street for three years for his repeated drunken behaviour. The 55-year-old ignored warnings by police after getting into trouble multiple times. He's been given a criminal behaviour order and could end up backing court if he breaks the rules. We're being asked how we're affected by crime and anti-social behaviour and what we'd like police in Kent to focus on. The man who oversees the force is launching his annual survey to find out how well we think they're performing. Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott says his priorities are to cut crime, support victims and build trust. A made-way dad has been reunited with the ambulance team who helped save his life when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Justin Reardon's wife called 999 when she was unable to wake him at their home in Rainham. Paramedics used a defibrillator on the 49-year-old who spent two days in hospital. He thanked paramedics for their incredible work. A fatal shooting at a pub in Kent that happened thirty years ago today remains unsolved. Stan Gordon Nichols was gunned down by two masked men as he tried to leave the anchor in in Yalding back in 1994. Police investigated whether it was a targeted attack or an attempted robbery that went wrong but no one's ever been caught. A dartford man who had to have his limbs amputated after developing sepsis says there were little signs of the potentially fatal illness. John Snow took a few days off in May because he was feeling under the weather. Just a few days later he was placed in an induced coma when his internal organs began to shut down. The father of three is now recovering and getting used to his prosthetics, friends and family apes started the GoFundMe to help pay for modifications to his home. Meanwhile a former Kent MP is calling for better aftercare for sepsis survivors after losing both his hands and feet to the condition. Craig McKinley used to represent South Thanet spent two weeks in a coma after falling ill last year. He's now been made a lord and says he wants to use his position to raise awareness of the signs and improve treatment. Now there are fears primary schools in parts of Medway could run out of places as early as next September. Increased pressure from new housing developments and NHS recruitment drives are seen a spike in demand for schools across the towns with many now nearing capacity. Council is looking at ways to expand current provision as well as the possibility of opening two new schools when funding allows. A Kent farmer has joined others in writing to the bosses of the UK's big supermarkets asking them to end so-called farm washing. They're accusing retailers of using fake farm brands and union flags to give shoppers the impression they're supporting local producers so Colville is a farmer in Ashford. What it means is when you go into a supermarket and you look at the fruit and veg or you look at the meat aisle and you're seeing union jacks everywhere, you're seeing printed on all the produce these cutesy little farm names when actually the case isn't always that that produce is A from A farm at all and B not necessarily from the UK either. So it's just getting a little bit of awareness with the shoppers that when they do go into the supermarket, which we all do, just to dig a little bit deeper and have a look at the country of origin and just wake up to the fact that it's not necessarily always as black and white as if it's got a cute farm name, it's from a farm. I think it's become more and more in our conscience that we want to support local farmers. We've heard what you've gone through in Jeremy Clarkson for one has raised the profile hugely. Do you think then we're being given the wrong impression when we go into a supermarket? I think so 100% and as a farmer, I find it quite disrespectful. We've worked hard to gain the trust and alongside Jeremy Clarkson and these farming shows, the British public want to support farmers and they don't necessarily always have the wherewithal or the time to buy directly from the farmers and that's understandable but then when they're going to the supermarket and they're almost being misled into thinking they're supporting the farmers when in actual fact they did some research and farmers don't actually feel supported by the supermarkets. So it's like the consumer thinks that they are supporting the farmers but in actual fact they're just having the wool pulled over their eyes and that's what suddenly needs to be done about that because they think that they're supporting British farmers and doing the right thing and in actual fact it's just not always the case. You've written an open letter to the big six supermarkets, how much of an impact do you hope in that we'll have? I have high hopes, I have really high hopes. I've spoken to a lot of our friends both farmers and non-farmers about it and they're absolutely gobsmacked. Even something so small is the fact that it can have printed on a product farm but it's not actually from a farm which sounds so simple doesn't it but and if they're consumer the shoppers they're the most important people. If they have a problem and are more aware then the supermarkets will have to listen so the letter I think is the first step or I think it will build and build and build. You mentioned earlier about how you don't feel supported by the big supermarkets and we've seen the struggles we've all seen it documented on our on our TV is how tough are things for you guys at the moment? There's different degrees of struggle. We all struggle with the weather. Sadly there's not anything anyone can do about that. That's just life but the support directly from the supermarkets so the farmers that have contracts with the large supermarkets we all know who they are. They're not they're not feeling supported at all. They're also feeling they don't feel like they've got enough courage to stand up against them because it's their livelihood. So anyone who's heading into a supermarket over the next couple of days maybe at the weekend they're going to go and do their big weekly shop. What would be your advice to them when they're grabbing stuff off the shelves particularly when it comes to fresh produce and meat and fruit and veg? Don't assume it's British. It's probably my best bit of advice. Don't assume that it's British because there's a big union jack above your head for example or you're in a British supermarket. Have a little look and it has to have on it the country of origin so where it's grown. It's not as black and white as that sadly. Sometimes it might be grown elsewhere and packaged in the UK but just have a look and it will literally only take you a second but I think it's quite important. Shops since they follow strict legislation on labeling. Kent Online News. Swimmers who use tides, leisure center and deal are being asked what they think about plans for its 19 million pound renovation. If it all goes ahead, a five lane, 25 meter pool would be installed plus a new health and fitness station, toning tables and cafe area. It does mean the wave pool and slides will be removed. Our reporter Sam Lennon has been out in deal talking to residents about what they think of the plans. Philip Cavill is behind it. Could only be for the better. Really, I mean it's probably you must need a better updating. It's been a lot of kicks since it felt really isn't it? So yeah, it'd be a good idea. I think we're complaining about the loss of the slide. Is that something that bothers you or do you accept that? No, it doesn't bother me. The kids maybe, obviously for the kids it's a bit of pleasure but no, it can only be better what you're planning. Wendy Squires says having better facilities closer to home would benefit families with young children. Children have to go out of town if they want to do competition swimming that if they can do it within their own town I think that would be good. I do think that it needs a bit more children friendly. We've only been in just a pool. They need to bring something to entice the children in as well. So they did say they were going to bring inflatables in like they have in Dover but we'll see what that's like. So they just need that excitement because they're going to get bored if it's just a swimming pool. So you can bring your own things but we all know kids like to flouch around with something. They've got something with them. Eric DeWitt agrees there needs to be upgrades and understands why the slides have to go. I think at the moment we do need some improvements on the facilities. Half of it is not working anymore. So for that I think it's encouraging to see it. I have when they start to post something a couple of weeks ago the first bit that came out I think as I have a young child who's six which is a bit of a shape to see the fun bit going away but on the other hand I understand why they're doing it and bringing more lanes which is going to help which I think is a good opportunity and solution. He's six now at the moment he wants fun but then at some point he probably wants to go lane swimming so I think it works. Several drop in sessions will be held in the coming weeks for people to have their say you can find full details in the story at Kent online and in some more worrying news for swimmers today we're waiting to find out if there's going to be a no swim warning issued in dim church following a rise in E. coli in the sea. High levels of the bacteria have been discovered and similar restrictions are already in place in nearby Little Stone and St Mary's Bay. Traders say any such ban would be cataclysmic for the town. Local bosses have deferred a decision on whether or not a medway zoo owner can sell some of his land for housing. Andrew Cowell wants to sell off land owned by the Fenn Bell Conservation Project in who to raise vital funds to keep it going but opponents are worried about over development and the houses being out of keeping with the local area Darren Summerfield is chair of the St Mary who parish council. What worries me is that some of those counselors wanted to pass it without looking on knowing the development which is terrifying to be brutally honest. What we're asking for is a fair assessment. There are no issues with Andy with the zoo. It's purely about the realities of 44 houses being put on that piece of land that are not fit for purpose. Do you think that they had properly considered what the impact would be of the development? Not at all the sheer fact that several of them hadn't even visited the peninsula and don't know what they're talking about. I understand there's a housing issue. I've got 30-something children, lots of people we have. We realise there's issues but it has to be put into context about the viability of developments. So to then highlight that there are 880 kids in care in a medway which is horrific has no relevance whatsoever. About 44 very nice houses in a peninsula, in the countryside. They just don't understand the connection but nobody can afford something exactly. So obviously this is going to come back to the playing committee in the future. I presume you're going to keep fighting this as long as it goes on. Without a doubt. Like I said, we are not against developments at all but they have to be in keeping and work for everybody. There are no school places, no doctors, no dentists, no shops. It's purely and utterly a car-driven new development. So I think the very least is come along and have a look and then maybe they'll understand a little bit why the residents feel so strongly. As I said, it's nothing to do with the zoo, nothing to do with Andy. That's not the issue. The issue is purely and utterly the wrong place for that many houses. Kent Online News A Ken Marm who was given a second chance of life in her 20s has told the Kent Online podcast how it's enabled her to have a family and compete for Team GB. Nikki Clifford from Maidstone suffered kidney failure 30 years ago and received a transplant. I was 27 when I got my transplant and I've been waiting nearly three years. Dialysis every day, every four hours like a baby's bottle. So really, you never really think the call is going to actually come through. At the end, I really couldn't, it would even walk upstairs sort of thing let alone go out and about each day. What was it like when you did receive that call to say, we've got a donor, Nikki, we can do the surgery? Very scary actually and I was doing a little bit of voluntary work and the call came through. I was a volunteer of the Heart King Hospice in Maidstone and the call came through there, grab your bag, go straight to guys hospital. If you're in Kent and have renal failure, you have your op done at guys. So a quick phone call to my husband and literally it's a race up to guys hospital to have loads of tests beforehand to make sure you are able to receive the kidney and it is technically they say a good match. Mine wasn't but obviously my precious kidney came from very sadly a 35 year old man that died in a motorcycle accident. But blessed that man, he was very healthy. I did well on dialysis so it was able to go ahead. I mean, obviously it completely changed your life. I mean, can you ever be grateful enough for what that person did for you? No, not at all. If I had one wish that you could grant me, it would be to meet my donor family actually. I have done quite a bit of sponsored events quite big. I've jumped to the top of guys tower, built in, I've jumped out of plane, I've wing walked because I try and sort of be so active. I have a horse, so I regularly compete at the British Transplant Games. I try and live life for him really because obviously he's not here. I've got two, well, me and my husband obviously, we got two beautiful girls, one Megan's 27 and Ella's 23 and they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the cragiousness of my donor's family because obviously they carried out his wishes. Obviously, presumably they did know that his wish was to denote his organs at that terrible time. Obviously he had a motorcycle accident, they were able to say yes and stopped me from every four hours of dialysis but my two girls wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. Yeah, it really did change your life and you mentioned there about competing at the Transplant Games. You've represented Team GB, which is incredible. Tell us a bit about that and how that feels like. I used to race walk and I must admit, I can't do it now, a bit older lady and to play table tennis and I run a gold medal, British Transplant Games happen annually around the country in different cities and the four days of sports with people from all different types of transplants. She's long, heart, liver, kidneys, corneas now. Anthony Nolan is part of it as well, which is amazing and it's very tiny children up until any age, anybody with a transplant with competing sports, promoting organ donation, showing what we can do after transplant. You can live really healthy lives and yes, I won the gold medal in race walking in 2014, so it represented Team GB in Argentina in 2015 because the world transplant games are every two years. I got two bronze medals amazingly in Argentina. It was fantastic and I've literally just been selected for Team GB again after 10 years. I'm in Dresden next year in Germany in the world transplant games 2025 and I'll be competing in table tennis, so that's very exciting. It took another 10 years to be selected again. Organ donation has saved 13,000 lives in the southeast. 884 patients in the region are waiting for a transplant. Kent Online News. Work has started on a multi-million pound regeneration project in part of Maidstone, homes that used to make up Cambridge Crescent in the shepway area of town have been demolished and rebuilding is getting underway. The 114 previous buildings and shops will be replaced with 236 new ones along with a community facility. Hordings have now gone up that feature the artworks of local school children, Nicola and Grace are two students that have their work displayed. They're students at Seneca Wood Primary. We put lots of effort and lots of creativity through the artwork and we decided to do this because of the challenge we got and all of these are very creative. How about you draw on them? I put another people with a pride flag because everyone goes together and do things together and kind of exclude people to do everything the same way. Lucy Alder is the regeneration coordinator for Golding Homes. Children aren't too involved in construction, but having their mark on this building really gets them involved. This route is often used for their route to school and to church so they walk past this with their friends, their families to show them that they've really got a mark and they're involved in this project as much as we are. So what comes after this now? What more things have we gotten this forward to in terms of the project happening in the timeline? So obviously on site at the moment we're working on the demolition is complete and they work on the ground works at the moment, but we're still working on a lot of engagement with local schools. We hold a lot of information evens every six months to keep everyone the individuals involved who are affected by the regeneration and local neighbouring properties to let them know where we are with the project and what they are to expect in the future. So nothing comes to them as a shock. We want to constantly commit to that community engagement all the time. We're hoping to work on another artwork project in the near future with our local opal schemes which is our older customers so they can work and put some more artwork over down the hall at it. Tom Casey is the director of development. He's hoping the project will open up lots of opportunities for the community. We're going to be working here for a number of years. The construction will be quite involved and as it comes out of the ground there will be many trades requirements and we had an employment fair last week at Maidstone United Football Club where we were present there taking any details of anyone who's interested. So we will have employment opportunities here and we're really keen that the local economy benefits from this project. The 52nd edition of the campaign for Real Ailes Good Beer Guide is out today featuring 145 of the best pubs across the county. It's put together by thousands of volunteers who give up their time to find the best of the best despite tough trading conditions in the industry this year's guide now includes 28 new pub entries from Kent alone. Kent online sports. Briefly and cricket and it's Kent's final championship game of the season today. They've made the long trip to take on Durham knowing they've already been relegated from Division 1. That's all from us today. Thanks ever so much for listening. Don't forget you can follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and threads. You can also get the details on the top stories direct to your email each morning via the briefing to sign up. Just head to Kent online.co.uk news. You can trust this is the Kent online podcast. 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