Two arrested after cable theft cuts off village internet near Maidstone
Villagers left offline after bold overnight heist
Homes in Mereworth near Maidstone were left without internet or phone service after thieves ripped out around 500 metres of telecommunications cable. The theft happened overnight between Thursday 9 and Friday 10 May 2024 near The Street, plunging the local community into digital blackout.
£12,000 in damage and farmland wrecked
The cable heist is estimated to have caused £12,000 worth of losses, with an additional £3,000 worth of damage to nearby farmland. Authorities launched an urgent investigation to bring the culprits to justice.
Quick police work leads to arrests
Officers scoured ANPR camera data and spotted suspicious vehicles linked to the theft. One car was seized from East Peckham, prompting a swift breakthrough.
Within 24 hours, two men in their 20s were detained. Police recovered the stolen cabling and tools during subsequent searches.
Charged suspect faces court, second on bail
Paul Webb, 28, from Orpington, was charged with theft and criminal damage. He appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday 13 May and remains in custody ahead of a Maidstone Crown Court hearing on 10 June.
The second suspect has been released on bail until 5 August as investigations continue.
