Podcast: Bigamist from Sheerness who married his step-daughter and fathered her children avoids jail

KentOnline

A “manipulative and controlling” bigamist who married his teenage step-daughter while still wed to her mother has been spared jail.

In a bizarre and unusual case, Maidstone Crown Court heard how he’d “exploited and abused the trust” of his family for many years.

Also in today’s podcast, specialist equipment has been brought in to help clear a motorway of debris after a lorry hit a bridge and jackknifed.

It sparked long delays for motorists on the coastbound carriageway of the M20 after drivers were trapped behind the HGV.

Business owners along part of the Kent coast say they are fearing for their survival after the village’s beach was classed as having “poor” water quality.

It was rated as “sufficient” last year but increasing levels of bacteria such as E. coli have resulted in the new ranking - and means people are advised not to swim there.

Fears part of a town will become a “car ghetto” have resurfaced as developers attempt to overturn the rejection of their bid to build a 250-home estate.

Campaigners were overjoyed when the proposals for land on the outskirts of Faversham town centre were dismissed, even holding a street party to mark the occasion.

And an Evri driver who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer is “blown away” by a fundraiser set up for her.

The 65-year-old had to break the news to her family just two days before Christmas – the community have now come together to start the fundraiser.