Serial offender returns to jail

A prolific offender is back behind bars after admitting eight offences.

Billy Matthews was jailed for a year and banned from driving for two and a half at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

It was the third time he has been sent to prison in as many years, having been convicted of several offences in 2015 – including conspiracy to receive a BMW taken from a Bearsted home.

The court heard the 28-yearold, formerly of Shepway and Park Wood, now of no fixed address, drove a Mercedes Benz on the A249, at Stockbury, while disqualified and with no insurance in December. A month later he stole £90 of meat from a shop in Branbridges Road, East Peckham, and more than £300 of clothes from Next in Eclipse Park, Maidstone. He then failed to attend court two days later.

Earlier this month Matthews was stopped in Bearsted Road, Maidstone, following a short pursuit. He was driving while disqualified and uninsured and also failed to give a breath test.

Picture: Simon Dolby FM4670128 Willow Class pupils at West Borough Primary meet KM Charity Team honorary patron Cheryl Baker. The class won a story time session with Cheryl for the entire school

Picture: Kent Police Billy Matthews has been jailed for a year

Fire fighters on Lower Stone Street on Monday