Podcast: 35 stone woman trapped in one room of house in Gillingham from sprout house chatham Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 17:47
✓ Published: 02-May-2024

Description:
<p>A Gillingham woman who has spent almost 20 years stuck in just one room of her home</a> has told the podcast she often wishes she went to sleep and didn't wake up.</p><p>Illa Smyth struggled with her mobility after skiing and horseriding accidents and now weighs 35 stone. She's paid tribute to her loving husband and she describes her quality of life.</p><p>Also in today's episode, a woman's facing life in prison after being found guilty of murdering a pub landlord</a> in Maidstone.</p><p>Stephanie Langley, 54 from Wilsons Lane in East Farleigh, stabbed her ex-brother-in-law Matthew Bryant to death at the Hare and Hounds last September.</p><p>Figures seen by KentOnline show 711 people crossed the Channel to Kent in 14 small boats yesterday</a>.</p><p>That's a record daily high this year and takes the total number of asylum seekers who've made the journey since last Friday to more than 1,600.</p><p>We get to vote for who we think should be Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner today.</p><p>There are three candidates going for the role with the result declared on Sunday.</p><p>Council elections are also happening</a> in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells - while two local Neighbourhood Plan Referendums are taking place in Pluckley and Chatham.</p><p>An animal conservation centre near Ashford has announced a major new operation to save Lions from Ukraine.</p><p>The animals are currently living at a site near Kyiv</a>, but some of them have suffered from shellshock due to the bombings.</p><p>A man who's walking from Manchester to Ibiza has now raised more than £20,000 for a Kent charity.</p><p>Henry Moores has teamed up with nightclub owner Wayne Lineker</a>, and will travel a total of 2,400 kilometres on foot.</p><p>And in sport, Chatham Town</a> are through to the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off finals.</p><p>They beat Horsham on penalties in front of a sold-out stadium last night.</p>