Margate Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Kieran Bole, a former PCSO, was stopped in his Fiat Punto in Margate on 7 February 2026. He had taken cocaine before the stop, tested positive at the roadside, then ran from officers and was found by a police dog handler. In custody he refused to provide a blood sample, claiming needle phobia. He later pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer and failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis. The offences were committed while he was subject to a conditional discharge for stalking.

Nathan Uren, 24, was released from prison only a few weeks before appearing at Margate Magistrates Court. He admitted four counts of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order after using the DuckDuckGo app, having an internet-enabled mobile phone and an Apple MacBook that were not registered with police, and failing to tell police about the devices. Prosecutors described him as a high-risk sex offender.

Taylor repeatedly stole from the same shop in Canterbury between April and July, taking around 20 steaks, cleaning products and confectionery worth an estimated £290. He was identified from CCTV and arrested in Westgate Gardens on July 20.

Stephen Bowes, 72, of Seager Road, Sheerness, was convicted of arson and multiple counts of criminal damage linked to 11 crimes over the past 12 months. He set fire to a fence on March 8 2026 and damaged cars, a porch and a gate on his street, with offences dating back to January 2025. He caused sustained distress to neighbours.

Andrew Angel, a 45-year-old drug addict addicted to crack cocaine and heroin, stole more than £400 worth of alcohol and meat from M&S and Farmfoods stores in Dover while on suspended sentences for prior shoplifting. On 28 April he stole four bottles of Cognac worth £168 from M&S Dover; on 30 April he stole three more bottles worth £126 from the same store; on 1 May he stole four legs of lamb worth £99.96 from Farmfoods Charlton Green; and on 2 May he stole two more legs worth £49.48. He admitted the offences at the first opportunity. Magistrates at Margate Magistrates Court activated his existing 6-month suspended sentences in full and imposed an additional 1-month sentence for the new offences (to serve 40% of the new term).

Gavin Chapman, 48, of Longmete Road, Preston, was found guilty following a trial of being equipped for searching or pursuing hares with dogs. The incident occurred in land off Dane Road, Birchington, where police discovered three dead hares hidden under a hedgerow near his green vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing a man carrying dead hares over his shoulder accompanied by a white and brown lurcher dog not on a lead, and a green vehicle stopping beside a hedgerow. Officers found fresh blood on his clothing and a monocular discarded nearby which he admitted belonged to him. He was arrested at the scene but denied hunting hares, claiming he stayed on public footpaths.

Mehmet Dari erected an illegal glass-fronted enclosure outside the Herne Bay branch of his A La Turka restaurant in 2019, despite only having planning permission for retractable awnings. The structure, costing £20,000 to build, obstructed the public highway and prevented access to underground utilities. After retrospective planning permission failed in 2022, Kent County Council issued an enforcement notice to remove it, which he ignored for years despite repeated assurances. The enclosure was finally removed days before the October 2025 hearing. The case involved delays, including allowances for personal circumstances related to the 2023 Turkey earthquakes.

Lloyd Armstrong stole over £500 worth of men’s underwear and other clothing from shops in the Westwood area of Thanet on May 26 and June 1, with some items still tagged.