downsmail.co.uk Maidstone South Edition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE February 2018 No. 250 News Pair face life in prison Parishes face future AN OUTSPOKEN churchman has warned two parishes face going bust if numbers continue 6 for murdering Razvan to decline. Our favoured schools TWO Maidstone men have been jailed for life for clubbing to death a THE most popular choices for sec- ondary schools in the homeless Romanian man who had been sleeping rough in Tovil. area are revealed. 8 Razvan Sirbu (21) suffered mul- tiple injuries to his head and body after being subjected to a sustained See a pharmacist and unprovoked assault with DOCTORS are advising people to weapons including a cleaver. use their local pharma- 11 Mr Sirbu’s body was found by cists for minor ailments. dog walkers in an area of wood- land, off Cave Hill, on the morning Peace summit delay of May 7 2017 near a tent he had been living in. A MEETING to resolve a row over a relief road has been de- Maidstone Crown Court heard how Mr Sirbu suffered multiple layed again. 16 skull fractures, facial bone fractures and broken ribs. Royal visit to castle Charlie White and Alex Macdon- LEEDS Castle will celebrate its ald, both 19, were sentenced to a 900th birthday with a minimum of 16 and 18 years re- royal visit. 24 spectively. A third defendant Jimmy Buck- ley (20), formerly of Coxheath, will Parish Councils 34 be detained indefinitely under the Alex Macdonald, top, and Charlie White, bottom have been found guilty of Mental Health Act. TRUSTEES are working on a five murdering homeless Razvan Sirbu, right CCTV at a local skate park year plan for a nature reserve in showed White burning clothing be- thought it was funny”. Appearing before Maidstone Tovil; two roads in Loose are in line lieved to have been worn during White claimed that, on the day of Crown Court were White, formerly for ‘quiet lane’ status; two new the murder. Images also depicted the murder, he planned stealing a of Quarry Road, Maidstone, and benches are to be installed at the Macdonald and Buckley appar- lawnmower from a garden and car- Macdonald, formerly of Regency parish field in Barming; a trampo- ently re-enacting the violence. ried a meat cleaver for protection. Place, Maidstone, who both line had been ordered and will be in- Blood found on Macdonald’s grey White claimed it was Mr Sirbu who pleaded not guilty to murder when stalled at a play area in Tovil; coat recovered from a caravan near attacked him and he had acted in the case went to trial. members at Barming are in favour Dover matched Mr Sirbu’s DNA. self-defence. White admitted re- They were found guilty on Janu- of a local council awards scheme. Detectives also found details of a peatedly striking Mr Sirbu with the ary 12 by a jury. conversation between White and weapon, but denied aiming any Buckley was deemed unfit to Crime Reports 34 Macdonald where White had blows to his head. plead, but was found by the jury to asked him why he kept beating Mr All three were charged with be involved in the act of killing Mr A CAMERA and other items were Sirbu. Macdonald replied: “Cos I murder and remanded in custody. Sirbu. taken in a break-in at a residential Detective Chief Inspector Tony property in Barming; power tools Pledger said: “This was an utterly were stolen from a van in Maid- senseless attack on a young man stone; CDs were stolen from a Ford who stood little chance of protect- Fiesta in Willington Street; a rac- ing himself. ing bike was taken from a property “Razvan Sirbu was subjected to a in Wheeler Street. horrific ordeal which was unpro- BEST WISHES F OR 2018 voked.” Obituaries 38 Mr Sirbu’s mother wept in the public gallery as her son’s killers were sent to prison. Comment 46-47 www.felicityrose.co.uk Felicity Rose : Timeless Affordable Elegance Felicity Rose Bridal Studio, can only be described as a truly unique shopping experience, tucked away on a rural estate in West Farleigh away from the busy hussle of the high street, a little gem awaits… Relax at you own private appointment, enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of fizz as you step into one of the handpicked collections for 2018. Felicity Rose have really thought about what brides want, great on-trend looks but at affordable prices, with all dresses from the 2018 collections ranging in price from £350- £1500. With great established brands such as Eternity Bridal, Romantica, Pure, Angel B, Sacha James, and new brands to the UK offering truly fashion forward designs such as Sposa. “We want brides to have an amazing experience in store, we have really put our hearts in to stocking what we believe are on trend dresses for 2018 and beyond, we want brides to come in and feel relaxed, not rushed and help them select a dress that really does suit them and really importantly, their budget” Says Maria Jackson, Owner. Offering custom payment plans, which can see you secure the 2018 dress of your dreams from as little as £100, Felicity Collections Rose is a must book Ranging in price location if you’re a lucky from £350- £1500 lady that has said “yes” over the festive season. To book an appointment, please call 01622 820546 www.felicityrose.co.uk | [email protected] Fox Pitt Farm, Shingle Barn Lane, West Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 0PN 2 Maidstone February 2018 downsmail.co.uk News School drops Oakwood five thrive to priority plans get places at Oxbridge FIVE students from Oakwood Park at Wadham College and Alexander Grammar School have been of- Wainwright, who has a place to fered places at Oxford and Cam- study Engineering at St Catherine's bridge this year. College. The school claims the achieve- Cambridge offered a place to ment of the five sixth formers is par- study English to Ailsa Burnham at ticularly remarkable considering the Downing College, a place for Law to INVICTA Grammar School has record number of applications na- Isabelle Pym at Selwyn College and dropped proposals to give first tionally this year to the two elite uni- a place to Oli Sampson for History preference to pupils from its own versities. and Politics at Homerton College. academy primaries. UCAS reported that there was a A spokesman for OPGS said: “I Head teacher Julie Derrick (pic- 7% rise in applications from Eng- am delighted for the students who tured) has revised its admissions land this year. are fantastic young people. policy so that pupils from the Val- The rise was partly caused by the “Our staff have enjoyed giving ley Invicta Academies Trust reduction in the number of AS ex- them mock interviews and marking (VIAT) are not favoured. aminations taken at the end of year their practice tests. In a letter home to parents, Mrs 12, which were traditionally used as “It is testimony to the strength of Derrick satates: “Following feed- an indicator of students' chances for our Sixth Form that we have so back and our desire to meet the success in their application. many different subjects represented needs of our local community, we Cambridge introduced pre- in these offers.” have revised our admissions pol- admission testing to respond to the Kent education specialist Peter icy. Please note we have removed removal of AS levels. Read said: “Most grammar schools the inclusion of a priority for chil- Oakwood Park’s five successful would normally produce two or dren attending a trust primary students (pictured right) had to take pendent on their final A-Level three students who would go to school ahead of other children.” a test, submit written work and at- grades this summer. Oxbridge. VIAT runs Aylesford, East Bor- tend interviews at the colleges to The two students with places at “The school is to be congratulated ough, Kings Hill, Leybourne which they had applied – and have Oxford University are Bruno Robin- for nurturing its brightest pupils.” Chase and Holborough Lakes pri- now been offered their places, de- son who has a place to study Maths More education news, page 8 maries. COUNTY COBBLER Just moved? Need spare keys? How to find us:- We are here to help!! We are in The Mall- Chequers Centre- five shops in from the DISCOUNTS on multiple key main entrance on the right hand orders COMPETITIVELY priced. side, next door to Virgin Media. • Watch repairs, batteries & straps replaced KEYS* • We specialise in men’s leather soles Yale type £5 stitched on. 2 for £7.50 3 for £10!!! • We can replace ZIPS on premises within We also cut 24 hours. Mortice, Chubb • NEW SPECIALISED key cutting – i.e. Security & tubular multi-lock security most car keys • MOST car keys cut *from the same key • Engraving Service – we can also supply trophies & tankards Prompt • Zippo Lighters While U Wait service • Get your Christmas presents personalised available by our engraving specialists - jewellery, pens & Zippo's etc. www.facebook.com/Maidstoneshoerepairs OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK (5:00pm TILL 11:00pm) Parking is available for picking up food ONLY County Cobbler 370 The Mall, Dukes Walk, through DENTAL CENTRE on Knightrider Street Chequers Centre • 01622 297600 WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CARDS Maidstone February 2018 3 News downsmail.co.uk Centre’s haul THE Mall Maidstone raised more than £11,000 for charity over Ivy hoping The Voice Christmas. An impressive £7,700 was given by shoppers using The Mall’s grotto and wrapping service.