• October

A jury took less than an hour to unanimously find Lee Bullen guilty of murdering Drew Shepherd.

The 23-year-old of Heritage Drive, Gillingham was told he will have to serve at least 15 years behind bars at the end of a two-week retrial.

Drew Shepherd was stabbed to death just yards from his parent’s home in Twydall in February 2006.

His father Robin said his son’s killer also claimed a second victim - his wife.

Drew’s mother Christine died over the summer before justice was finally done.

Robin told the Medway Messenger: “This second trial just prolonged our trauma. It was the last straw for her. She couldn’t cope.

“If he had not killed Drew, my wife would still be alive today. He has destroyed my family.”

“TThe Best gift he could give me.”

That was the moving tribute paid by loving wife Emily Dickson, whose husband Tim died just four weeks before the birth of their first child Elsie Elizabeth.

Tim, 35, lost his 16-month battle against a rare strain of cancer in September.

His daughter Elsie was born on October 10 at Medway Maritime Hospital weighing 7lb 8oz.

Jamie Crook thought he was being dragged to a rather tedious dinner and dance for his 30th birthday.

Little did he know that not only was he heading for a surprise birthday party, but his own wedding.

His fiancee Gemma had booked a registrar to attend the event at Lordswood Leisure Centre attended by 180 guests who were also in on the secret.

Wedding bells rang for pensioners Albert O’Neill and Hilda Graves.

The couple were married at St Margaret’s Church in Rainham on Saturday, October 11.

They first met each other at the Age Concern Centre in Woodlands Road, Gillingham. But Cupid’s arrow didn’t strike until the centre organised a day trip to Eastbourne.

Both have been married once before.

Hilda, 81, who lives with Albert, 85, at his home in Campleshon Road, Rainham, said: “I used to say a little prayer to God to bring me someone to love again - and he did.”

• November

A thug who slit an innocent man’s throat with a knife used to cut a birthday cake was jailed indefinitely with no hope of release for at least 14 years.

Victim Brett Banks narrowly avoided death after the attack and Sean McLaren, also known as Starkie, was arrested by police later that night.

During his trial judge James O’Mahony said the incident was 'akin to a public execution’.

Pensioner Sheila Justice was pleasantly surprised when, after falling in a dark alley and approached by youths, she was picked up and carried home.

She contacted the newsdesk and was full of praise.

She said: “When you see teenagers congregating, you think they will be trouble but these boys rushed to help me.

“I wanted to mention them and thank them for what they have done.”

After the Medway Messenger’s story, Mrs Justice was reunited with her 'heroes’ the following week, when they presented her with a bunch of flowers.

• December

Two per cent of the UK’s electricity supplies was cut when intruders broke into Kingsnorth Power Station on the Isle of Grain and switched off a turbine.

A company spokesman admitted someone with specialist knowledge of working in a power station may have carried out the attack.

The intruders scaled a new electric fence which had not yet been activated, and turned off one of the four turbines that supply London and the South East.

It was the most successful attack on the power station yet.

The person responsible even left an anti-coal banner inside.

Stranger danger alerts were sent out to parents after a series of incidents outside Medway schools this month.

Young girls and boys were said to have been approached on their way home.

Police say they are not linking the incidents and are treating each sighting individually after pupils gave varying descriptions of men prowling around and acting suspiciously.