Traders and residents fear rising rents and anti-social behaviour is putting off customers from visiting an out-of-town shopping centre. Shop owners in New Ash Green say a volatile group of youths who intimidate customers in the car park and hurl verbal abuse at them in the street are deterring visits. Also in today’s podcast, five men have faced c…

A Yalding woman who stole more than £8,000 from a pensioner in her care has avoided being sent to prison. A court heard the victim had been left disabled after suffering a suspected mini-stroke and the 43 year-old who was meant to be looking after him, used his debit card to pay for clothes, food and music. Also in today's podcast, people in Ashfor…

A Sittingbourne teacher who had a cocaine addiction and posted about his drug use on socials has been banned from the profession. Austin Whiting was the head of Year 13 at Borden Grammar School and taught geography. As election campaigning continues, Nigel Farage has been in Dover to announce the town's Reform candidate. We've also been finding out…

A Whitstable woman is refusing to pay her housing estate service charge despite being threatened with legal action. Christine Curtis has been withholding the charge for four years, because of a lack of maintenance and repairs. Eight chicks have died near Canterbury after a roadworks notice was posted into a letterbox despite clear warnings the bird…

A secondary school has confirmed an email containing information about its students was “inadvertently” sent to parents. The Leigh Academies Trust, which runs The Hundred of Hoo Academy, is investigating how the “mishap” happened. Also in today’s podcast, jurors have returned a conclusion of misadventure at an inquest into the death of a little boy…

A complaint has been made about the arrest of a teenage boy in Margate after footage emerged of an officer appearing to knee them in the stomach. Police had been called to Dane Park following reports a group possibly had weapons. Sir Keir Starmer has been in Medway to launch Labour's general election campaign. Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that w…

A Queenborough mum has been slapped with a £200 fine for littering after seagulls ate a few McDonald’s chips she accidentally dropped on the floor. She'd been tucking into her quarter-pounder meal next to a seaside Tesco when an environment warden “hidden between the cars” approached her. Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP has revealed he had to ha…

An exotic animal is on the loose after escaping from its zoo enclosure - and we're being warned not to approach her. The Tayra - a weasel-like mammal from Central America - was discovered missing from the Hemsley Conservation Centre on Sunday. Also in today's podcast, drivers have had their say on a new £650k turbo roundabout as work comes to an en…

A group of residents in Maidstone claim a parking company is trying to charge them from parking on their own land. Half a dozen signs were put up in a private car park just off Northumberland Road by UK Car Park Management. Hear from one of the residents and what the housing association have said. Also on today's podcast, a Whitstable man who was i…

The petrolhead behind Kent’s first car ‘drifting’ school says he will continue to operate the new track - despite being advised to slam on the brakes by local bosses. It's after complaints about the noise of revving engines and screeching tyres at the Skidz Advanced Driving School set up at Manston Airport. Also in today’s podcast, a secure school …

Several staff from a Kent prison have been taken to hospital after their canteen food was spiked with drugs. Paramedics were called to HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey last Thursday. Hear from Andy Hamlin from the Criminal Justice Workers Union. A childcare worker has described the moment a baby boy started choking on his food at an Ashford nur…

A serial conman from Maidstone has been jailed for defrauding two companies straight after leaving prison for the same offence. Darren Carvill was locked up in 2019 for taking £260,000 from his work in Strood and changed his surname when he was released. More food parcels have been handed out in Medway than any other part of Kent according to new f…

A Dymchurch woman who stabbed her husband when he fell asleep as she told him about her life problems, has avoided being sent to prison. He needed emergency treatment but pleaded with a judge not to jail his wife - blaming the outburst on menopausal symptoms. Also in today’s episode, a Kent MP says she hopes measures will be put in place urgently t…

A Gravesend mum has hit out at her son's school after receiving a letter criticising his attendance, despite the fact he was having life saving treatment. Louie Wilders missed most of Year 8 after being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. Also in today’s episode, an Ashford woman says she has been left unable to sleep because of the stress of living i…

The Labour leader has been in Dover to explain how his party would tackle the issue of small boat crossings. Sir Keir Starmer described it as 'one of the greatest challenges we face' and confirmed he would scrap the government's Rwanda scheme. He was joined by Dover MP Natalie Elphicke who defected to the party earlier this week. Also in the podcas…

We're starting today's episode with reaction to the shock political news that Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour. The Dover MP released a statement criticising the Prime Minister's record on tackling small boat crossings - saying he's 'failing to keep our borders safe and secure'. Hear from a leading charity in Dover that works with asylum see…

Fed-up residents say a stretch of scenic seafront is at risk of becoming a “squatter camp” if something is not done to stop campervan owners from setting up there for weeks at a time. Locals say people are practically living at the site on Sheppey and committing anti-social acts such as urinating in public. Also in today’s podcast, a shop owner has…

A Rochester woman had to undergo surgery and has been left with a broken nose after an unprovoked attack while on a night out. The 42-year-old has lost her sense of smell and taste following the assault - a man who has a history of violence against women has faced court. Also in today’s podcast, worried business owners in Medway have been left fear…

Staff at a nursery which has been open inside a recreation centre since 1996 say they have been told to “leave immediately” by new owners. Bosses at centre in Ashford have told the KentOnline Podcast they were informed via the new owner’s solicitors that they need to leave. Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from the RSPCA following a spate of a…

A Gillingham woman who has spent almost 20 years stuck in just one room of her home has told the podcast she often wishes she went to sleep and didn't wake up. Illa Smyth struggled with her mobility after skiing and horseriding accidents and now weighs 35 stone. She's paid tribute to her loving husband and she describes her quality of life. Also in…

Plans for a an 8,000 seater stadium in north Kent have been approved. It is the centre piece of a major development on brownfield land in Northfleet which also includes houses, shops, medical services and community venues. Also in today’s episode, another person has been arrested over the deaths of five people as they tried to cross the Channel to …

A Sheppey woman who scammed her bosses out of nearly £80,000 has been sent to prison. Carly Miller, 39 from Main Road in Queenborough, siphoned off company money that was meant to be used to pay suppliers. Also in today's podcast, there are calls to ban lorries from a stretch of road in Kent following a number of serious crashes. Campaigners also w…

More than 40 hair and beauty students at an academy on Sheppey have been told their past year’s work was for nothing. The pupils have been left stunned they won’t be getting a BTEC qualification despite signing up for the course and studying hard. Also in today’s podcast, an award-winning architect who designed and built his “dream home” on the Ken…

A mum-of-four who endured cancer chemotherapy after being misdiagnosed with the disease says a hospital trust “has not learned from its mistakes”. The Whitstable resident says she has “absolutely no faith in doctors” after being told by Kent and Canterbury Hospital staff she could “drop down dead” at any moment. Also in today's podcast, furious swi…

A developer has been criticised for going back on a promise to provide affordable housing in Deal. 100 properties are due be built in Cross Road and 30% were supposed to be affordable. We've been getting reaction from people who live nearby. Also in the podcast, bosses in Dartford have approved plans to build more than 12 and a half thousand homes …