News

A warrant has been issued after a pilot who crash landed his plane near Folkestone, failed to appear in court to answer charges of growing cannabis plants at his home.

The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Charles Macdonald QC following the non-appearance of Sidney Clark at Maidstone Crown Court.

Clark, 48, of Tonbridge Road, Barming had earlier pleaded guilty to possession and cultivation of cannabis and the abstraction of electricity.

He appeared in court for sentencing on January 23 this year, but the hearing was adjourned after Clark claimed the cannabis was for his own private use rather than to supply others.

Sidney Clark was arrested by officers following a raid at his home near Maidstone three days after crashing a light aircraft in February last year.

The Cessna 172 plane carrying Clark and a male passenger came down in trees at a house in Farthing Common, during foggy conditions after taking off from Rochester Airport on February 23.

Both men escaped from the wreckage with minor injuries.