ROBBERS who threatened to cut victims' fingers off have been jailed for a string of offences across Mole Valley and the South East.
Dean Shade, 32, of Turpington Lane, Bromley, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years and James Russell, 24, of Leybourne Close, Crawley, was sentenced to 11 years.
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CCTV footage from one of the raids. In every attack the gang were armed with weapons including knives, baseball bats, chainsaws and angle grinders
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James Russell was sentenced to 11 years in prison
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Dean Shade was sentenced to life in prison
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CCTV footage of the armed gang robbing Friday Ad in Sayers Common
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CCTV footage of the armed gang robbing Unity Media in Sevenoaks
Shade was the mastermind of an armed gang which stole computer equipment worth £415,840, including 169 Apple Macs.
The pair targeted businesses across the South East during 2010 and 2011, including Robert Dyas and Puma UK in Leatherhead, and a private address in Charlwood.
Detective Sergeant Dennis Phelan, of the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "These offences were not committed with any great degree of sophistication.
"The gang simply relied upon brute force and numbers to threaten and terrorise their victims, many of whom were tied up and marched round their premises before being left alone, restrained in the premises until the alarm was raised.
"Due to the threats and level of violence used, many of the witnesses who gave evidence did so from behind screens. I would like to applaud their courage in doing so. Several remain traumatised to this day by these events."
The two robbers were sentenced on Friday along with Candice Fox, 29, of The Brindle Way, Purley, who was given 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months for converting criminal property for the gang.
Russell had pleaded guilty at Brighton Crown Court on April 10, and Shade was convicted on May 11 after a four-week trial.
In every case the robbers were masked and armed with a variety of weapons including knives, baseball bats, chainsaws and angle grinders, threatening to cut victims' fingers off if they did not provide their personal bank cards and PIN numbers.
In April 2011, police found crucial evidence linking Shade and Russell to the robberies.
Russell was arrested in May that year for an unconnected offence, and Shade was caught at the beginning of August.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Allen said: "There are others out there who were involved in these extremely violent offences who have not yet been brought to justice."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Source: www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk
At Dale Farm it took ten years. Yesterday this farmer and his digger saw off invading travellers in just three hours! - Daily Mail
- Dave Dawson threatened to remove travellers by force himself after declaring: 'I won't tolerate it.'
- Police say travellers left of their own accord in two hours 50 minutes after Mr Dawson's intervention
By Luke Salkeld
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Not having it: Dave Dawson, left, responded to travellers moving on to his land by leaping into his digger and threatening to move them by force
When he found travellers’ caravans had arrived on his land, Dave Dawson had two options.
He could either alert the authorities and wait for the slow turning of the wheels of justice and officialdom.
Or he could rely on the somewhat quicker wheels of his digger – and remove the caravans by force.
Taking the second course of action, Mr Dawson put in a call to the police to inform them of his intentions, which risked leading to his arrest.
Officers arrived to oversee what appeared to be a few heated exchanges before – remarkably – the travellers left of their own accord.
His swift action stands in stark contrast to the decade-long battle to shift travellers from the notorious Dale Farm site in Essex, which only came to an end in October last year.
Mr Dawson, whose farm is near Shoreham in West Sussex, discovered the intruders early yesterday morning. ‘I would have used any force possible to get them off my land,’ he said. ‘I got down here about 6am and told them to move off. There were four vans there at the time and more parked up outside.
‘I came down with the digger and tractor and told them if they didn’t move I was going to move them.
‘I just won’t tolerate it. It is my land. I bought it and I have worked hard for it. I called the police and told them I was going to get the digger and move them.
‘I didn’t care if they got squashed, flattened or left on their own, but one way or another I was going to get them off my land.’
'It's my land': Undeterred by the sudden arrival of the travellers, Mr Dawson called police and told them he was prepared to remove the intruders by force
'I would have used any force possible': Officers were forced to stand between Mr Dawson's digger and the travellers' caravans to prevent him from carrying out his threats
It is believed that the went to Lancing Green, West Sussex, three miles from Mr Dawson's land
He said that at one point in the clash the officers had to stand between the two sides.
‘The police told me that once they are on the land they have rights. But what about my rights?’ Mr Dawson added.
‘If I had left it to the authorities they could have been on my land for weeks. I wasn’t going to wait for a court order to get rid of them.
‘As it was, the police threatened to arrest me. It has already cost me a day’s work and about 500 to repair the damage. They cut through a metal gate and put their own lock on it.’
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘Six caravans turned up on land at 6.45am. The landowner also turned up and threatened to evict the travellers.
Furious: Officers oversaw what appeared to be several heated exchanges between Mr Dawson and his uninvited guests
A traveller talks to officers: Mr Dawson feared that if he left the eviction to the authorities, the caravans could have been left on his land for weeks
‘Police attended and remained on scene to prevent a breach of peace. The travellers left the site of their own accord at 9.35am.’ Removing travellers who have occupied land without permission is usually a much more costly and time-consuming exercise.
At Dale Farm, the decade-long legal battle cost taxpayers an estimated 18million.
A total of 43 people were arrested and several injured after protesters fought running battles with riot police over the eviction of about 80 families from what was the UK’s largest illegal traveller settlement.
As soon as Basildon council had declared a final victory, there was a massive leap in the number of caravans pitched on the legal Oak Lane site next door – and an adjoining road – prompting more expensive legal action.
In 2009, a convoy pitched up at another controversial travellers’ site just hours after a group had been evicted following a six-year legal battle costing 400,000.
The new arrivals rolled on to a field adjoining the notorious Smithy Fen site at Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, where travellers had set up an illegal camp.
Bye bye: The travellers eventually moved off Mr Dawson's land at 9.45am - three hours after they had arrived
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Wimbledon 2012 - Lleyton Hewitt looking for success again at Wimbledon - Crunchsports.com
Source: www.crunchsports.com
Grimsby is 'logical place' - Hull Daily Mail
GRIMSBY'S eagerly awaited Morrisons seafood production facility could be just the start of a prosperous relationship between the supermarket giant and the town.
Major training initiatives for retail and factory staff are being explored as work continues at pace on the Europarc site.
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WELCOME: Wynne Griffiths, left, welcomes head of seafood for Morrisons Frank Green, and managing director of seafood manufacturing for Morrisons Howard Sims, right, to the Humber Seafood Institute on the Europarc, Grimsby. Picture: Jon Corken
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FOCUS: Seafood is a big focus of supermarket chain Morrisons.
Frank Green, head of seafood for the Bradford-based retailer, met senior figures from the town's super cluster this week, following up a meeting with Humber Seafood Institute chairman Wynne Griffiths CBE at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels in April.
And the senior executive underlined the importance of fish to Morrisons, while making it clear that Grimsby shouldn't just focus on what it can offer in seafood, as the "Market Street" fresh produce element of nearly 500 stores are further enhanced.
Mr Green, a former Young's account director when Mr Griffiths was at the helm at Ross House, said: "I worked in Grimsby for ten years and had a smashing time, and it is the logical place for a retailer to open a fish business. The whole reason why we are here is the next step in development of a better store.
"My brief is the wider Morrisons brand, and how the factory fits in, how we can source directly and what products go into what type of processing and, most importantly, how we sell products to customers.
"Year on year we want that to improve and that is quite a challenge for us."
Morrisons is the UK's second biggest food manufacturer, having enjoyed success with the ownership model of production, particularly in bakery and butchery lines.
Seafood is the next component of that, with a clear focus.
Talks were held about the potential to train 500 fish counter managers here, in what would be a 26-week course, with scope to bring more than 1,000 fish counter staff together in the town to talk through the new push on fresh fish.
Mr Green said: "We are looking at how we can use the resources in this area.
"This is the seafood cluster for the UK, and part of the visit is how we find ways of improving our capability, and particularly those of our fishmongers, through training.
"We take this really seriously, it is part of our craft position as a retailer. Our point of difference is the in-store craft skills. We have fully trained butchers, bakers, cheesemongers and fishmongers. It is the experience that becomes a function in the store.
Mr Green was told how Young's Seafood got more than 1,600 employees to NVQ standard working with Grimsby Institute.
Tesco also trains fishmongers here, with 600 staff in the process of completing two residential units which involve five days in the town.
While not confirmed, Mr Green and industry officials were positive about the opportunity.
"There is competition, but I know Grimsby well, I worked for a great business here and understand the area," Mr Green said. "We should not see this just as seafood, but a dimension of food manufacturing. This should be a natural hub, providing we can get it done. It has great facilities, great infrastructure. All of these things make the area more amenable."
On schedule to open in early September, the former Kwoks ready meals factory is currently being transformed to include several production lines for white fish, salmon and shellfish.
Mr Green said: "We are on schedule to open on September 3. The next four to six weeks are very important, but work is starting to take shape."
Source: www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk
Tsonga doubtful for Wimbledon after breaking finger in shock Queen's defeat - Daily Mail
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is a doubt for Wimbledon after he suffered a suspected broken finger during his shock defeat to Ivan Dodig at the AEGON Championships on Thursday.
The world No 5, who made the last four at SW19 last year, bowed out of the Wimbledon warm-up competition at Queen's today with a 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 6-7 (5/7) loss to world No 69 Dodig.
Painful: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga looks at his injured finger
His disappointment was furthered by the news that he may have broken the little finger on his right hand after slipping in the sixth game of the third set.
'I think it's serious,' said Tsonga, who had his hand placed in an ice-bag during his post-match press conference.
'I will have a scan, but it sounds very bad.
'I felt like I broke something or I strained it when I fell.
'It's only a finger but it's tough because I have to play with my hand.
'At the moment I don't know what is it, but I will stay positive and I will see.'
Tsonga, who reached a career-best quarter-final placing at the French Open earlier this month, was expected to win this tournament after Andy Murray's exit, but Dodig showed remarkable composure to clinch the game and set up a quarter-final meeting with 2010 champion Sam Querrey.
Floored: Weary Tsonga suffered shock defeat
Tsonga's draining French Open campaign looked to have had an effect on him as the second seed moved sluggishly around the court and failed to strike the ball with his customary power and finesse.
The world No 5 five, semi-finalist at Wimbledon last year, also suffered an injury to a finger on his right hand during the disappointing defeat on centre court.
Tsonga started off slowly but earned a break point when Dodig double-faulted during a nervy first service game. The Croatian denied his opponent, however, forcing him on to the backfoot with a good serve and Tsonga went long with a backhand.
Tsonga fired down two consecutive aces in the following game but was still clearly not at his best.
The second seed struggled to get around the court and handed Dodig a break point in the 10th game, but the big Frenchman rescued himself with a thundering ace.
Done it: Ivan Dodig celebrates victory
Dodig raced into a 4-0 lead on the tie break after breaking Tsonga's serve twice and, despite a brief comeback, the world No 69 sealed the set by breaking again.
Tsonga smiled, knowing he fully deserved to be behind, and immediately set about equalling the match in the second set.
He took Dodig's first service game to deuce before losing and the Frenchman seemed in much more confident mood than during the first set.
Errors started to creep in to Dodig's game and Tsonga took full advantage, forcing his opponent to find the net and move a break up.
Tsonga then hit a meaty cross-court backhand to break Dodig again and clinch the set in quick time.
Famous face: Holly Valance and fianc Nick Candy in the crowd
Tsonga's game continued to improve but Dodig kept his composure to start the third set comfortably despite a barrage of power strokes from last year's finalist.
Tsonga jarred his little finger after slipping in the sixth game, but the injury did not prevent him from earning three break points.
Dodig remained calm however, and forced down three powerful serves that left his opponent groaning with dismay.
Dodig thought his chance to win the match had gone when he spurned a break point at 5-5, but he got another opportunity in the tie-break and took it, forcing Tsonga on the backfoot and he cleared the baseline under pressure to allow Dodig to record a shock victory.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Building work has begun on new Morrisons store in Coleshill - thisistamworth.co.uk
The sale of Birmingham Road/ Park Road car park, Coleshill, was recently completed with the supermarket chain Morrisons.
Building work has begun this week on the site, with an anticipated completion date of October 2012.
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North Warwickshire Borough Council
Officers from North Warwickshire Borough Council have been in discussion with Warwickshire Police and the County Council and have agreed to use the car park at the front of Coleshill Police Station (adjacent to the A446) for temporary short-stay parking while the construction works are going on.
That agreement is still subject to a formal licence being finalised, but it is anticipated that this process will be completed within a few days.
Upon the satisfactory completion of the necessary legal process the Borough Council will arrange the provision of signage for the temporary car park.
A copy of a letter circulated to local residents from Morrisons' appointed contractor, Thomas Vale Construction gives a contact point for any enquires associated with site operations:
Thomas Vale Construction on 01299 872745 or site manager Jamie Travis on 07837 429823.
Source: www.thisistamworth.co.uk
Battle of the beach resorts – Skegness accused of putting down rivals Blackpool and Brighton - Daily Telegraph
Local newspapers in both resorts took the decision not to carry the new advert.
“Skeggy” or as it’s affectionately known “The Costa del Skeg”, also claims to be “England’s cultural coast” where “great art and coast come together”.
Blackpool attracts about 13 million visitors each year, with plans in place for a £220m transformation of the resort's centre, while more than eight million people flock to Brighton annually.
In comparison Skegness only welcomes around four million visitors each year, generating £450m for the local economy.
Last year it was described in the Lonely Planet guide as "good family fun if you immerse yourself in the whole tacky spectacle".
But James Gilbert, ELDC’s communications team leader, who commissioned the idea, said the campaign said that view was 30 years out of date
“We want to challenge people’s perceptions and showcase the amazing art, culture, dance, theatre and music that is staged in the town,” he added.
“These adverts are highlighting alternative views, we hope to entice people into having a look at what Skegness has to offer.
“Obviously, Brighton and Blackpool attract more visitors than Skegness and we are not seeking to insult anyone who lives there or visits there.
"We are not trying to upset anyone, it's a bit of friendly rivalry," he said.
Skegness is hoping to get publicity for an "amazing summer of events", which includes So Festival and the Olympic Torch Relay on 27 June.
But Claire Smith, from the guesthouse and hoteliers association Stay Blackpool, said it was a "dirty tricks" campaign.
She said: "Skegness is a lovely little place and this campaign isn't drawing me in, in fact it's making me think about Blackpool and Brighton.
"It is difficult times. Blackpool has an abundance of stuff going on all summer as well, as I am sure Brighton has, but I don't think this campaign is the way to attract visitors," she said.
Both Skegness and Blackpool are featured in a TV advertising campaign to encourage Britons to take their holidays at home in 2012.
Skegness once relied on The Jolly Fisherman with the slogan “So bracing” to promote the town in reference to the chilly north-easterly winds that whipped the beach off the North Sea.
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Good luck to them. It’s slightly hard to tell what they’re getting at, however.
“As Brighton is widely known as a successful, buzzing, cultural place, with England’s biggest arts festival, claiming to be dissimilar is a strange strategy.
“But if Skegness wants to remind thousands of people that Brighton is here, that’s fine.”
Former Brighton city council leader Mary Mears said: “There’s a big difference between the two.
“Those people that visit Skegness maybe would not want to go again whereas we get lots of repeat customers in Brighton and Hove.”
Robin Morley, of Brighton-based Magnetic Events, is directing So Festival later this month.
He said: “I do have cross loyalties as Brighton is my home but have worked with East Lindsey council for three years.
“I think the advert shows Brighton and Hove has two sides to it, like any town or city.”
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Good on you Sir I salute you!
- Super Kev, London England, 14/6/2012 16:23
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