ANOTHER driver has been convicted following our summer #DriveSafeDriveSober anti-drink and drug driving campaign.

A total of 205 people were arrested during the campaign which highlighted how alcohol and drugs can impair your reactions when driving.

The consequences of this can be fatal.

The driver convicted is:

James Belmour, 25, of Copshall Close, Harlow:
– Arrested at 2.33am on June 20 in Copshall Close, Harlow;
– Disqualified for 28 months, 100 hours unpaid work, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge for drink driving;
– Driving licence endorsed for driving with no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with licence.

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FOUR men have been charged after they were arrested in Coopersale yesterday, Thursday, August 23.

Walter Mitchell, 39, of Fern Hill Lane, Harlow, was charged with handling stolen goods, conspiracy to commit burglary and assaulting a police officer.
Levi Mitchell, 34, of Fern Hill Lane, Harlow, was charged with handling stolen goods and conspiracy to commit burglary.
Sid Clark, 31, of no fixed address, was charged with handling stolen goods and conspiracy to commit burglary.
William Mitchell, 29, of Fern Hill Lane, Harlow, was charged with handling stolen goods and conspiracy to commit burglary.

They are due to appear at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, August 24.

The conspiracy to commit burglary charge is in connection with a break-in at McColls in Dolphin Square, Tring, Hertfordshire, on Wednesday, August 22.

The handling stolen goods charge is in connection with a stolen Volkswagen Golf.

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HERTFORDSHIRE Constabulary’s website has a fascinating history section, which we like to dip not now and again.

Here is one from the archive.

Mrs Sarah Rose Springham, of High Wych, was charged at Harlow Bench on Saturday with breaking into the dwelling house of Mr A.R. Steele, Northbrooks, Great Parndon, and stealing a brass hanging lamp, value 4s 6d, on 5th June, 1918.

Samuel Burton, gardener, said that he was caretaker at Northbrooks, which was empty except for some hanging lamps. On the 4th of June, everything was all right, but on 5th June he found the house had been broken into, one lamp stolen, some pot plants taken from the windows, and flowers removed from the garden.

A schoolboy named Mead said he saw a woman carrying a bag from which a lamp glass protruded.

Police Constable Thorogood said that he visited the defendant at her cottage at High Wych, where she admitted breaking into the house and taking the lamp, which she handed to him.

The defendant pleaded guilty and told a remarkable story. She said she was walking from High Wych to Waltham Abbey to see her daughter, who lived there. She had not a penny on her, and when she came to Northbrooks she went to the house, but found it unoccupied.

She broke a window and got through, and then lit a fire, boiled some water, made some tea, and cooked a rasher of bacon which she had with her. She also made and cooked a pancake with some flour which she had. She took some flowers and plants, which she gave to her daughter at Waltham Abbey when she got there. She had lost 2 sons in the war, one at Mons and one at Gallipoli. She had a daughter in the W.A.A.C. and another in munitions at Waltham Abbey. She took the lamp to light her through Epping Forest, as on a previous occasion, when walking in the dark through the forest, she had fallen into a ditch. She thought the lamp would be useful in helping her to find the way.

The Chairman, Mr Joseph Todhunter, said that in view of the woman’s statement she would be bound over in £5 to keep the peace for 12 months.

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ESSEX Police are appealing for witnesses after a teenage boy was stabbed in the leg in Harlow.

Officers believe the incident occurred near to Orchard Croft just before 6pm tonight, August 30, close to the underpass of First Avenue.

The boy has been taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

The police believe this may have been a targeted attack, and would like to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

Please call Harlow CID on 101 quoting incident number 880 of 30/08.

Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A HARLOW man has pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child for sex.

Allan Stimson, aged 78, of Wharley Hook, Harlow was charged with the following.

1. On 15/05/2017 attempted to intentionally meet a child, username ‘Bored Teenager’, having communicated with him on at least two occasions, namely by electronic message on 15th May 2017, intending during or after the meeting to commit a relevant offence, namely to have oral sex with him.

Stimson will be sentenced on September 26th at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Stimson has also pleaded not guilty to the following charges.

1. Between 19/01/2013 and 15/05/2017 made indecent photographs, namely 2 Cat A images and 27 Cat C images, of a child, stored on HP Laptop.

2. Between 19/01/2013 and 15/05/2017 made indecent photographs, namely 2 Cat A movies, of a child, stored on Acer Laptop.

3. Between 19/01/2013 and 15/05/2017 made indecent photographs, namely 2 Cat A movies, of a child, stored on Acer Laptop

4. Between 19/01/2013 and 15/05/2017 possessed an extreme pornographic image, stored on Acer Laptop depicting an act which was likely to result in serious injury to a person’s genitals and anus

A trial date of September 26th at Chelmsford Crown Court has been set.

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THE ESSEX Police helicopter was deployed last night after reports of men with guns in Harlow.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called shortly before 9.10pm on Friday, August 31 with reports two men were seen, one of whom had what appeared to be a gun in First Avenue, Harlow.

“Officers carried out a search with the assistance of a police helicopter.

“They spoke to two men matching the descriptions given in Edinburgh Way and established they did not have a firearm and no offences had been committed”.

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A HARLOW MAN has pleaded guilty to being in possession of a knife in Sawbridgeworth.

Corey Harrison, aged 20, of Willowfield, pleaded guilty to the following at Chelmsford magistrates court.

On 25/06/2018 at Sawbridgeworth had with you, without good reason or lawful authority, in a public place, Sheering Lower Road, Sawbridgeworth an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely green kitchen knife.

Harrison was committed to detention for four months but the was suspended for 12 months.

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A 41-year-old man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a girl during an opportunistic attack in Harlow last year has been sentenced to a lengthy jail term.

At the conclusion of a six-day trial on Monday, July 30, Darren Sellen, of Church Leys, Harlow, was found guilty of kidnap, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual assault and sexual assault on a child under 13.

On Friday, August 31, he appeared again at Chelmsford Crown Court, and was sentenced to six years imprisonment and another four years on licence.

At around 3.30pm on Thursday, November 2, 2017, a girl was walking from Bush Fair and crossed Tillwicks Road, when Sellen came from behind her and put his hands over her mouth and eyes.

He then dragged her towards some garages before sexually assaulting her.

Two people who had witnessed Sellen grab the victim, who was aged under 13, quickly came to her aid before calling police.

In court, it was noted that Sellen was seen on CCTV following the victim and making sure she was alone before attacking her.

Officers who reviewed CCTV following the incident, saw that Sellen was wearing the same clothing described by the victim.

He was also caught on camera fleeing the crime scene.

Sellen was arrested the next day on Friday, November 3.

At sentencing, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed on Sellen following a previous sexual offence, was also extended and will be in place for life. At the time of the incident in July, he was being recalled to prison after a technical breach of his parole for this previous sexual offence.

The Sexual Harm Prevention Order means that on release, Sellen will have to adhere to a number of conditions for life. Included in these, are strict restrictions on physical proximity to children under 16.

Detective Constable Ryan Burgess, of Harlow CID, who led the investigation, said:

“I would like to praise the victim for her bravery during this investigation. She has shown an enormous amount of courage throughout, and gave us key descriptions of Sellen.

“Sellen is a sexual predator and a very dangerous individual who continues to refuse to admit his terrible actions, but who has now been brought to justice.

“The severity of his crimes are reflected in the sentence imposed and I hope that this will help to bring some closure and comfort to the victim as she moves on from this ordeal.

“I would also like to thank the two people who helped her, and whose actions were recognised in crown court for outstanding public duty.”

A 10-year restraining order in relation to the victim and her immediate family was also granted.

In court, the two witnesses who came to her aid, were each awarded £500.

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HAVE you seen Brandon Jones, 15, who’s gone missing in Harlow?

A police spokesperson said: “He was reported missing at 4.25pm on Saturday, September 1 and Essex Police have now exhausted all other lines of enquiry which is why we’re now asking for your help.

“We believe he is still in the Harlow area and he’s been sighted near Aldi in First Avenue at around 3pm on Tuesday, September 4 and walking along Church Langley Way towards the Tesco at around 5.30pm on the same day.

“He is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, slim, with brown hair in a top-knot style and could be wearing black skinny jeans and a dark green t-shirt.

“If you have seen him or have any information about where he is please call us on 101 quoting incident 942 of 01/09.

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A HARLOW woman is among four more drivers convicted following an Essex Police summer #DriveSafeDriveSober anti-drink and drug driving campaign.

A total of 205 people were arrested during the campaign which highlighted how alcohol and drugs can impair your reactions when driving.

The consequences of this can be fatal.

Those convicted are:

Francesca Spinnati, 21, of Collins Meadow, Harlow:
– Arrested at 12.55am on July 4 in Third Avenue, Harlow;
– Disqualified for 12 months, fined £292, £85 costs, £30 victim surcharge for drink driving.

Millie Bain, 19, of New Court Road, Chelmsford:
– Arrested in Margaretting Road, Chelmsford at 10.51pm on June 24;
– Disqualified for 20 months, fined £350, £85 costs, £35 victim surcharge for drink driving.

Kenny Queen, 20, of Wellesley Road, Clacton:
– Arrested at 3.20am on June 30 in Marine Parade East;
– Disqualified for three years, fined £120, £90 costs, £30 victim surcharge for drink driving;
– One day detention for failing to attend court.

Philip Hopwood, 57, of Midhurst Avenue, Westcliff:
– Arrested at 10.53pm on June 30 in Edinburgh Way, Halow;
– Disqualified for 60 months, 150 hours unpaid work, 30 days rehabilitation work, £85 costs, £85 victim surcharge for drink driving:
– Licence endorsed for no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

The post Harlow woman banned as Essex Police continue drink-drive clampdown appeared first on Your Harlow.

Update: John Munns has been found.

========

HAVE you seen 34-year-old John Munns who is missing from his home in Harlow?

He left his home around 6.30am yesterday morning, Wednesday, September 5 and was last seen at Boots Pharmacy in the town centre around 3pm.

John is around 5ft 10ins tall, of a medium build with short dark brown hair. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a grey top, with a beige jacket and black trainers.

Family and officers are worried about John and want to find him to make sure he is ok.

Anyone who has seen him or knows where he might be is asked to contact Harlow Police Station on 101.

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A MAN has been jailed for harassing a woman despite a restraining order in place prohibiting him from doing so.

Ashley Wood,aged 26, of Bigginsfield Road, Enfield pleaded guilty to the following at Chelmsford magistrates court.

On 30/08/2018 at Harlow without reasonable excuse, you were in company with another which you were prohibited from doing by a restraining order imposed by Essex Magistrates’ Court on 3rd August 2018.

Wood was committed to prison for eight weeks because this was a breach of a court order.

The breach was within two days of order being made.

The court reported that the victim was clearly fearful and no alternative but to send to custody.

Wood was also fined £105.00

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AN arrest has been made following an incident in Thornwood last night, September 7, which left seven cars damaged.

Essex Police were called a little before 10pm with reports that a Ford Fiesta was being driven at speed and erratically in the Thornwood area.

Officers attended the High Road, and found that the Fiesta has come to a stop before colliding with a number of parked vehicles.

The driver suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries and was immediately taken to hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

The man, who is in his 20s, has been placed under arrest on suspicion of drink or drug driving and careless driving.

Anyone who saw the car driving in Thornwood Road and may have dash cam footage, is asked to contact the Brentwood and Epping Forest Community Policing Team on 101.

The post Man arrested after car ploughs into houses in Thornwood appeared first on Your Harlow.

ESSEX Police are appealing for information after goods worth a five figure sum were stolen from an address in Ongar.

An investigation is ongoing after a lorry trailer containing 26 pallets of the drink Vimto were stolen from an address in High Laver between August 12 and August 14.

It is believed the theft happened in the morning on one of those days, between 8am and 9am.
Police constable Paul Alcock, said: “This has had a significant financial impact on the victim.

“If anyone has been offered a large amount of the beverage at a discounted rate it is an offence to handle stolen goods and you could be prosecuted for that offence.

“Remember, if the offer is too good to be true it usually is.”

The trailer’s tracker showed that it was on the B194 Waltham Abbey at around 3pm on August 13, and anyone with information about its whereabouts or those responsible for the theft are asked to contact Pc Paul Alcock on 101. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Police appeal after large amount of Vimto stolen appeared first on Your Harlow.

THE father of a British woman murdered in Kenya 30 years ago said he wants the authorities to get the DNA of the person he suspects killed his daughter reports the BBC.

The mutilated body of wildlife photographer Julie Ward, 28, from Bury St Edmunds, was discovered on Maasai Mara reserve in September 1988.

Three people were charged with her murder, although no-one has ever been convicted.

John Ward, 85, will revisit the murder scene in Kenya in the coming days.

Mr Ward’s connection with Harlow is that he founded the Saxon Inn (now the Park Inn) on Southern Way in Harlow.

Miss Ward disappeared towards the end of a solo photography safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara game reserve.

She was last seen alive on 6 September 1988, before her burned and dismembered body was found by her father a week later.

At the time, Kenyan officials claimed she has been attacked by animals – but they later accepted she was murdered after her father uncovered further evidence.

In 2004, an inquest held in Ipswich recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Mr Ward, from Brockley, near Bury St Edmunds, has put almost £2m of his own money into the investigation – and made more than

He said if his daughter’s death was accidental, he would have accepted it by now, but he will not give up on the murder investigation.

Mr Ward, who has two sons, said: “What we would really like to get is our suspect’s DNA but of course I haven’t got the power to do it.”

Two game rangers were acquitted of Ms Ward’s murder in 1992 due to insufficient evidence.

In 1997, a new team of Kenyan police officers re-examined the case – and in 1999 a gamekeeper was tried and acquitted of the crime.

The post Man who founded Saxon Inn Motel won’t give up on search for truth about daughter’s murder appeared first on Your Harlow.

A MAN has been charged with drug related offences and will appear in court next month.

Lamarr Chambers, 25, of Villa Road, Brixton, London has been charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

The charges relate to offences alleged to have happened in Harlow in January this year.

Chambers remains on bail and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday October 8.

The post Man charged over dealing Class A drugs in Harlow appeared first on Your Harlow.

Child abuse image offences up by 35 per cent in Essex since last year

Number of indecent image offences in Essex up from 568 in 2016/17 to 767 in 2017/18

A child abuse image offence is recorded every 23 minutes by police in the UK

NSPCC’s Wild West Web campaign calls for tough regulator to hold social networks to account

THE number of child abuse image offences recorded by police in Essex has risen by 35 per cent in a year, the NSPCC has revealed.

New figures obtained via Freedom of Information requests to every police force found an offence was recorded on average every 23 minutes in 2017/18 in the UK, and that the number of offences has risen by almost a quarter in a year to 22,724.

Last year (2016/17), Essex Police recorded 568 offences and the figure has risen to 767 in 2017/18.

The charity is warning that offenders are using social networks to target children for abuse online, grooming and manipulating them into sending naked images. Without adequate support the impact of this abuse can last a lifetime.

A single offence recorded by police can involve hundreds of indecent images of children.

The NSPCC’s #WildWestWeb campaign is calling on Government to prevent abuse from happening in the first place by introducing an independent regulator to hold social networks to account and tackle grooming to cut off the supply of these images at source.

Last month, an NSPCC survey of 40,000 young people revealed an average of one in 50 schoolchildren had sent a nude or semi-nude image to an adult.

In February, Matthew Falder was jailed for 32 years after blackmailing young people into sending him humiliating pictures of themselves which he shared on abuse forums2.

And in July, Basildon pensioner Michael Aspland was jailed for making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Tony Stower, NSPCC’s head of child safety online, said: “Every one of these images represents a real child who has been groomed and abused to supply the demand of this appalling trade.

“The lack of adequate protections on social networks has given offenders all too easy access to children to target and abuse. This is the last chance saloon for social networks on whose platforms this abuse is often taking place.

“Our Wild West Web campaign is calling on Government to introduce a tough independent regulator to hold social networks to account and tackle grooming to cut off supply of these images at source.”

While UK authorities work to remove child abuse images from the internet new images are constantly uploaded. In 2017, the Internet Watch Foundation identified over 78,000 URLs containing child sexual abuse images3.

The NSPCC’s #WildWestWeb campaign is calling on Government to create an independent regulator to hold social networks to account. Join the NSPCC’s campaign and sign the petition online.

The post Child abuse image offences up by 35 per cent in Essex since last year appeared first on Your Harlow.

TWO men who live in Harlow are set to stand trial over an alleged assault.

Braydon Hall, aged 18 and Reggie Wilson, aged 19, both of Terminus House, Harlow face the following charges.

On 01/08/2018 at Harlow in the county of Essex assaulted another by beating him

On 01/08/2018 at Harlow, with intent to cause another harassment, alarm or distress, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing that person or another harassment, alarm or distress.

Bail conditions for both men stipulate that they must not enter ASDA or the Water Gardens car park.

The case has been adjourned until Oct 17th at Chelmsford magistrates court.

The post Two men charged over assault in town centre appeared first on Your Harlow.

ESSEX Police are warning drivers about a fraud called ghost broking where fraudulent car insurance packages are being sold by fraudsters.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “Today, Monday, September 17, our partners at Action Fraud and City of London Police have launched a campaign under the hashtag #SteerClearOfFraud.

“We are supporting the awareness campaign and would like to raise awareness about the tactics used and how you can avoid becoming a victim.

“The scam involves people, particularly young people aged between 17 and 24, being offered deals that are not genuine.
Suspects carry out the fraud by either giving you forged insurance documents, falsify your details to bring prices down or even taking out a genuine policy and cancelling soon after to claim a refund and your money”.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Morton, head of Kent and Essex’s Serious Economic Crime Unit, said: “There are more severe consequences to the scam than just losing your hard earned money.

“By not having a valid car insurance, you could get points on your driving licence, your car seized and even destroyed, and you may receive a fixed penalty notice or be liable for claim costs following an accident.

“Scammers will target victims through social media, they may place adverts in newspapers or could cold call you. In some instances, the suspects have been recommended by friends and family who are unaware they have fallen for the scam.

“By taking some simple steps you can avoid becoming a victim of ghost broking.”

Our advice is:

* Remember, if an offer looks too good to be true, then it probably is;
* Suspects may advertise on student websites or money-saving forums, university notice boards and marketplace websites. They may also try to sell insurance policies in pubs, clubs or bars, newsagents and car repair shops;
* Be wary of suspects using only mobile phone, phone apps or email as a way of contact;
* If you are not sure about the broker, check on the Financial Conduct Authority or the British Insurance Brokers’ Association website for a full list of all authorised insurance brokers;
* You can also contact the insurance company directly to verify the broker’s details and you can check to see if your car is legitimately insured on the Motor Insurance Database.

If you have fallen victim of this scam, please call Essex Police on 101, report it online by visiting www.essex.police/do-it-online or report information anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you have concerns about a scam, please report this to Action Fraud by visiting https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/.

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A LARGE number of police officers conducted an extensive search of Harlow Town Centre on Tuesday morning.

Photographs released by the Harlow Community Team show officers walking towards Redstone House opposite the Library.

They are also seen searching a number of alleyways near the market square as well as sweeping the Water Gardens are of the shopping precincts.

The action is part of an ongoing series of police strategies designed to combat crime and disorder in the area.

A razor blade and a butter knife were found.

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