KentOnline

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 planning battle that has been raging for 13 years may finally be reaching an end. 

A public inquiry starts tomorrow to determine the future of the popular fishing centre in Marden.

A teenager who was savaged during a dog attack has been hailed a “hero” for shielding his puppy and younger brother during the ordeal.

Police were called to Herne Bay after a 17-year-old boy and a Dachshund had been attacked by an aggressive dog.

And in sport you can hear from the Gillingham manager following another goalless draw over the weekend. 

The Gills were at away Carlisle United and John Coleman was full of praise for the traveling fans. 

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 masked burglar charged at an officer with a crowbar during a break-in at a village store has captured on bodyworn camera.

You can hear the moment he violently resisted attempts to arrest him and even tried to snatch a Taser. 

The owners of a coffee shop in a bus are locked in a planning battle with a council which says they have no right to be there.

Bosses at the Moving Mug in Tunbridge Wells say support from the community has been “touching”, but some customers think the council should be more supportive of the business.

And in sport, John Coleman believes the Gillingham squad are adapting to his methods – and now he wants moments of quality to ensure they get back to winning ways.

He’ll be hoping to get his first win this weekend away at Carlisle. 

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 grass verges on their housing estate were marketed for sale for potential use by the “travelling community”.

A listing on Rightmove for the narrow roadside plots near Canterbury revealed they were being auctioned off, with no prior warning to residents.

You can hear audio of the moment a drug dealer was arrested and his weapons seized as police raided his home.

He’d had been operating multiple cocaine supply lines across west Kent, known as the Scarface network.

And two former Gillingham managers have united in a managerial partnership in League 1.

Neil Harris and Mark Bonner have returned to Cambridge United to try and help them off the bottom of the table.

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 Thanet who says it’s got so bad it’s putting people off shopping there. 

The family of a much-loved wife and mum who was found drowned in a river have spoken for the first time.

Stella Toner suffered from mental health issues and alcohol addiction and went missing from the family home in Strood – her daughter has now become patron of the charity that offered her support. 

Plans to convert a disused school block into a £2.5m facility for children with Special Educational Needs have been given the go-ahead.

It’ll take over the two-storey building in Minster which had previously been used by the troubled Oasis Academy. 

And a recue dog from Strood has been named as a finalist for the Crufts hero award.

Tilly was found abandoned in a plastic washing basket in the middle of a roundabout when she was just four weeks old but she now visits prisons, schools and care homes across the county – you can hear from her owner. 

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 every day, in the 12 months to last March. We've got reaction from the NSPCC.

A petition's calling for more cameras at a junction in Thanet following the death of a woman at a pedestrian crossing.

It's claimed some drivers are going too fast and others are jumping red lights on the A28 where it meets Minster and St Mildred's.

Plans have been unveiled for a new rail watchdog - but Kent commuters say they're not convinced it'll help passengers.

The government claims it'll give people a voice, and hold train companies to account. We've been chatting to Rob Mansfield, who's chair of the Tonbridge Line Commuters campaign group.

Five years after a border facility opened in Ashford, the KentOnline Podcast has been told lorries are still getting lost and blocking country lanes.

The site at Sevington opened in 2020 and is used to checks goods going in and out of the UK.

And,  if you're a resident or have ever visited Canterbury you might have wondered about the history of the famous Crooked House.

The rickety black-and-white building at the junction of King Street and Palace Street dates back to the 1600s and we've been finding out a bit more about it.

A community has spoken of their shock after a Valentine's Day shooting outside a Kent pub.

Police and paramedics had been called to the Three Horseshoes in Knockholt at around 7pm on Friday. A woman in her 40s had been seriously injured and died at the scene.

Also in today's podcast, there's been a backlash over plans to build 450-homes on a flood zone in Edenbridge.

A revised application for the site in Four Elms Road also includes a secondary school, scout hut and youth centre. 

A Kent influencer who socials about life with two autistic children has revealed her own autism diagnosis.

Lisa Lloyd noticed many of her own traits in her children so decided to get tested.

The 40-year-old from Aylesford says it's answered a lot of questions.

There are fears plans for a skate park in Hersden could wipe out an historic bowls club.

Chislet Colliery Welfare Bowls Club first opened in 1938, and they now want to expand their clubhouse so they can welcome more members and stay afloat.

And in sport, Gillingham had a goal disallowed and a penalty appeal turned down - as they drew nil nil with Crewe Alexandra at the weekend.

Bradley Dack thought he'd scored a late winner at Priestfield on Saturday - but the ref signalled for a foul on the keeper.

New figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show almost 3,000 patients were left waiting more than 12 hours for a bed at a Kent hospital in January.

Three out of four trusts covering the county recorded their worst-ever emergency figures last month. In 2020 the figure for a long wait was just five patients.

Also in today's episode, the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey has spoken about his experience with HIV during a debate in parliament.

Kevin McKenna says the diagnosis and treatment of HIV and AIDS has changed since he was diagnosed 20 years ago.

We're told work to create a new health hub in Thanet is "moving at pace".

£10 million will transform the Carey Building on Northwood Road in Broadstairs. It'll include a GP surgery and diagnostics centre - with the possibility for things like a dentist as well.

We've been told planned new signs to try and stop car drivers using bus lanes in Tunbridge Wells are too confusing.

Red circular signs are set to be replaced with blue ones - which it's claimed will give motorists the impression they're allowed to drive there.

Football, and Gillingham will be hoping to build on a better performance on Tuesday night as they return to Priestfield this weekend.

They welcome 8th placed Crewe Alexandra tomorrow.

First today we hear from the dad of a Harrietsham woman who died in her sleep just hours after an ambulance was stood down while on its way to her home.

Mum of two Karen Ovenell had called 999 after suffering sharp chest pains in August last year.

An inquest into the 43-year-old's death has heard how the initial call handler booked an ambulance - but Karen was then told to sleep and book a GP appointment the following day or go to A&E.

Also in today's podcast, members of Kent County Council are meeting to vote on their draft budget for the next financial year.

In order to balance the books, bosses are likely to look at a range of measures including a 5% increase of council tax.

Work's started no transforming a Grade II listed building in Medway into a state of the art creative hub.

The Docking Station at Chatham Historic Dockyard will be in the former Police Section House.

A dog is recovering after being run over by a cyclist near Whitstable.

Bonnie the Chihuahua was rushed to a vet and put on oxygen and medication for shock after it happened on a path in Swalecliffe.

And finally, work's nearly finished on a new centre in Kent for five lions that have been rescued from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary has raised £500,000 to create special enclosures at their site near Ashford.

A drunk mum who broke her friend’s eye socket in a vicious nightclub attack has been spared jail after her victim told a judge: “I don’t want her to go to prison, she’s pregnant.”

Nadine Telfer, who is due to give birth in two weeks, faced a spell behind bars after dragging another woman to the floor by her hair and punching her in the face. 

Also in today’s podcast, a popular Kent school fitness and activity coach has been horrifically injured after being hit by a scooter while jogging on holiday.

He suffered a shattered leg, ruptured artery and deep muscle laceration in the accident in Goa, leaving him fearing he could lose the limb.

A “sorely missed” country pub which burnt down after being struck by lightning could soon rise from the rubble more than three years on.

Plans have been submitted to rebuild the Green Man pub in Hodsoll Street and return it to its former glory in the same spot overlooking the green.

Seven years after almost 1,400 people signed a petition to “save the soul of Dover”, the KentOnline Podcast has gone back to the high street to see if it’s survived. 

The fears were sparked after the £53 million St James’ retail and leisure park was built just a few hundreds yards away from the pedestrianised precinct. 

And in football you can hear from both the Gillingham manager and one of their new signings after their draw with top of the table Walsall. 

John Coleman says he was pleased to see his players regain some lost pride. 

A landlady has described how her village pub “shook visibly” as a juggernaut smashed into the building twice after getting stuck in a road closure.

Villagers watched in dismay as the driver, who was trying to turn the vehicle round, backed into the function room. 

Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from the boss of Medway Council ahead of a meeting today to discuss their spending plans for the next financial year.

It could see a hike in parking charges and sports centre membership - with council tax also set to increase.

Horrified guests have been left stunned at the state of the holiday let they had booked on the Kent coast.

The pair discovered nappies, sanitary towels and broken glass strewn across the garden on arrival at the Ramsgate accommodation.

A pub landlord whose business has been plagued by roadworks says the decision to close the road again is absolutely ridiculous.

He fears trade could fall by almost half when Newtown Road shuts for five weeks later this month – and then again in the summer.

And bosses at a Kent restaurant have been left stunned after being awarded a second highly prestigious Michelin star.

They were given the hugely impressive accolade following a Michelin Guide unveiling event.