Woman is found dead on footpath in Kent village sparking huge police response
Police launch murder probe after female PCSO, 53, was found dead on footpath ‘where she walked her Jack Russell’ near leafy Kent hamlet
- Kent Police were called to Snowdown, near Dover, at around 4pm on Tuesday
- Officers have confirmed body of Julia James was found near to Akholt Wood
- Her death being treated as suspicious as detectives investigate circumstances
Detectives have today launched a murder probe after a female PCSO was found dead on a secluded footpath in Kent where she ‘walked her Jack Russell.’
The body of Julia James, 53, was found on the edge of Akholt Wood in Snowdown, near Aylesham, Kent, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday.
Kent Police confirmed it has launched a murder investigation in the wake of the death, which neighbours claim took place as the mother-of-two walked her dog.
The serving PCSO for Kent Police was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several police vehicles arrived at the scene this afternoon and forensics teams were photographed close to the path on which Mrs James’s body was found.
No arrests have been made in the case.
The body of Julia James (pictured), 53, was found near to Akholt Wood in Snowdown, near Aylesham, Kent, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday
The woman (above), a serving PCSO for Kent Police, was pronounced dead at the scene
Forensic officers today arrived at the entrance to a path near where the body of Ms James was found on Tuesday
Police officers in Aylesham, Kent, begin an investigation following the death of Ms James
Mrs James was found dead on a path on the edge of Ackholt Wood and fields off the Aylesham Road area of Snowdown, a former coal mining town close to Dover.
The married mother-of-two, who was also a grandmother, often walked her dog in the area and one neighbour claims her Jack Russell has not been seen since.
Neighbours said Mrs James regularly exercised her dog along the country footpaths near to her home, which is on a 1930s miners’ housing estate in the hamlet.
It remains unclear how Mrs James, who joined Kent Police as a PCSO in 2007, died but a post mortem is due to be held to establish her cause of death.
Assistant Chief Constable Tom Richards said: ‘Officers are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry to establish the circumstances and people in the Snowdown area will see an increased police presence as a result.
‘It saddens me to confirm that the victim was a serving PCSO for Kent Police and whilst there is a full and thorough investigation underway our thoughts also remain with her family, friends and colleagues.’
He added: ‘It is vitally important that anyone who was in the area on Monday and Tuesday who may have seen something suspicious gets in touch with us.
‘We’re particularly keen to speak to those who regularly visit the area who may have seen something out of place and those who drove by who have dashcam footage.
‘We would advise anyone in the area to remain vigilant until the full circumstances of the death are established.’
It is understood Mrs James became a police community support officer in 2007, joining from a Kent County Council learning resource centre.
After becoming a PCSO for Tenterden in 2013, she told a local paper: ‘I am a people person and love being in the community. The people in Tenterden are very friendly.’
She has two children – a daughter who also works for the police and a 23-year-old son – as well as an infant grandson.
Devastated locals say the community, comprised of roughly 54 houses and part of the civil parish of Aylesham, has been left ‘shocked’ and ‘reeling’ following her death.
Officers were photographed searching bushes near the bridleway in Kent this afternoon
Forensic teams were also on the scene today as a major police investigation got underway
Officers continue to comb through the woodland near to where Ms James’ body was found
Nearby fields remain sealed off today and a police tent can be seen on a path that runs between a field and woodland
Police vehicles are seen near to a caravan park in Snowdown, Aylesham, Kent, today
Locals have suggested the ‘happy’ and ‘bubbly’ Ms James was ‘out walking her dogs’ ahead of the tragedy. The circumstances of her death remain unclear
Leah Southwell, 18, claimed Mrs James was ‘out walking her dogs’ on Tuesday when the tragedy took place, the Sun reported.
She said: ‘She was so happy. So bubbly, if you were having a bad day she’d be there smiling at you and trying to make you laugh.’
The teenager also described how the area was ‘swarmed with police’ after the body was discovered by the edge of a field.
She said: ‘Last night about 10pm, I looked out my window and there were sirens, blue lights all down my road.
Locals say the small community, comprised of roughly 54 houses and part of the village of Aylesham, has been left ‘shocked’ and ‘reeling’ after the death
Police forensic officers search a field close to where the body of Ms James was found near Aylesham Road, Snowdown, Kent, on Tuesday
Kent Police was appealing for any witnesses to come forward as an investigation continued
Officers are seen outside a home in Snowdown, Kent, today following the death of Ms James
Ms James, a serving PCSO for Kent Police, was pronounced dead at the scene yesterday
‘At around 4pm-ish there were two vans, a little van and a squad car, and there was a fire engine as well.
‘Nothing ever happens around here. It’s just shocking to be honest.’
Another neighbour said: ‘I can’t believe it. She was a loving mum and the pillar of the community. This is devastating. She was a lovely woman.
‘A terrific part of the community.’
Paramedic Sean Simmonds, 57, who lives on the same street as Mrs James, said he only saw the mother-of-two walking her Jack Russell a few days ago.
He said: ‘I can’t believe it. She usually walks her dogs in the fields, a little Jack Russell. That hasn’t been seen either.
‘It’s a such a shame.’
Mary Bowden, 71, added Mrs James kept herself to herself but seemed nice.
She said: ‘She was a very quiet, nice lady, very inoffensive. I often used to see her walking her dogs.
‘Nothing happens around here usually. She was just a quiet, lovely lady.’
Officers were called to Snowdown, near Aylesham, Kent, at around 4pm on Tuesday following reports a body had been found near to Akholt Wood. Pictured: The scene today
Kent Police today confirmed the body was that of a serving police community support officer, adding her death is being treated as suspicious
Linda Keen, councillor for Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell, said: ‘It’s absolutely dreadful news and a tragedy for the woman, her family and the local community who must be in shock.
‘This sort of incident is very atypical for Aylesham and doesn’t really happen here.
‘I’m sure the police will do absolutely everything they can to establish what has happened.’
Fellow Dover District Councillor for the ward Peter Walker said: ‘Police have a large cordon in place and continue to search after the woman’s body was found.
‘It seems very serious.
‘It is a tragedy for the locals and will shock this usually peaceful community without a shadow of a doubt. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.’
Charles Woodgate, who also represents Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell, said: ‘It’s a young woman who was sadly found dead yesterday afternoon.
‘This is a tragedy and a terrible thing to happen here.’
Police rushed to a Kent hamlet last night after a woman was found dead near to a footpath
Officers were called to Snowdown, near Dover, at around 4pm on Tuesday following reports a body had been found near to Aylesham Road
Photographs from the scene show forensics teams in attendance, alongside several police vehicles. Reports claimed a fire engine had also arrived
Aylesham Parish Council chair Mark Townsend added: ‘It’s a tragedy that the community is reeling from.’
Kent Fire and Rescue confirmed a fire engine had been in attendance at the scene some two hours after police arrived, but would not confirm the reason for this.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended and pronounced the serving PCSO dead in the woodland.
A spokesman said: ‘I can confirm we attended the scene and that sadly a woman was pronounced dead at the scene.’
It is understood a heavy police presence remained at the scene late into last night
Witnesses said a footpath was taped off during the incident. Pictured: Police at the scene
Road closures were in place as officers investigated the death last night.
Kent Fire and Rescue added: ‘Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called at 18.22 to assist Kent Police in Aylesham Road, in Snowdown, Dover.
‘One fire engine attended.’
Kent Police are keen to speak to anyone in the area on Monday or Tuesday who may have seen something unusual or suspicious.
Anyone with information should call 0800 0514526 or can submit video footage online.
