Folkestone Herald 6 April 1995.

Local News.

A £2.3 million “superpub” – The Brickfield Brewers' Fayre pub in Cherry Garden Lane, Folkestone – opened this week. It includes a 40 room Travel Inn. Children from Harcourt Primary School were at the launch of the Whitbread Inns development, testing out its Charlie Chalk fun factory. More than 60 local people are employed in the bars, restaurant, children's fun factory, and to service the hotel Managers are John and Kim Muir.

Folkestone Herald 18 May 1995.

Local News.

A Shepway pub, restaurant and hotel complex will hand over almost £500 to a local hospital – thanks to donations from customers collected during its first weekend of opening. A licensing hiccup meant The Brickfield, in Cherry Garden Lane, Cheriton, could not trade as normal during its first weekend in April. For while the doors could open, staff could not charge for food and drink. So, rather than stay closed, managers John and Kim Muir served meals and refreshments and only just asked customers for charity donations in return. The money raised will be given to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital Day Care Centre.

“People were very generous with the amounts they donated”, Kim explained. “The money will be used to help provide services and equipment for patients at the Day Care Centre”.

The couple will hand over the £500 cheque to hospital staff later this month.

Folkestone Herald 11 March 1999.

Maidstone Crown Court.

A teenage thug who stamped on a man's head and stabbed him in the leg has been sentenced has been sentenced to four and a half years' youth custody. Police discovered that Stuart Benson was also a drug dealer when they went to his home to arrest him. Officers found 109 ecstasy tablets and 37 amphetamine sulphate tablets, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

David Tomlinson, prosecuting, said Benson, 18, was first involved in violence at Folkestone Rugby Club on July 10 last year. Trouble broke out when some people were refused admission and Benson, of Sandgate Road, Folkestone, “elected himself as spokesman”. Mr. Tomlinson said the youth struck Andre Double in the mouth, causing an “explosion” of blood from a split lip and badly damaged tooth, which needed root canal treatment. Benson was later arrested, and while on bail got involved in another incident at Brickfields pub in Cherry Garden Avenue on December 4. During an argument among youths in the toilets, Benson restrained Ashley Plummer and pulled him to the floor. He then stamped on his head and stabbed him in the leg three times. Mr. Tomlinson said part of the blade snapped off. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment. Police went to Benson's home and found the drugs, with a street value of £1,340. He admitted he intended to sell them at night clubs.

Told that cash the teenager was found to have was returned to him, Judge Keith Simpson said “I can't believe it. We live in a world of sheer lunacy. I want an answer in black and white why it was given back”.

Benson admitted unlawful wounding, assault causing actual bodily harm and two charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply. He had been given two years' youth custody, reduced to 20 months on appeal, in May, 1997, for robbery and handling stolen goods.

David Walden-Smith, defending, said it was hoped Benson would have treatment for substance abuse while in custody. “In the circumstances he appreciates I can do no more than to ask the Court not to sentence him in such a way as to crush his spirit”, he added.

Judge Simpson told Benson “It is perfectly plain that you are a violent person and considerably involved in dealing in drugs, including that wicked Class A drug known as ecstasy. We know the sort of damage that has caused in recent times. For that reason the Court has to treat any drug dealer with considerable severity”. The judge said Benson's record showed he resorted to violence all too readily.