ESSEX Police are investigating an assault on a man in Harlow and are looking to trace anyone who was in the area at the time.
The 19-year-old victim was cycling home from work at about 3am on Sunday 8 November.
He was in Ployters Road, near the junction with Brockles Mead, and saw a group of men coming down a cycle track behind factories in Perry Road.
One of the men approached him and punched him in the face in what is believed to be an unprovoked attack. The group then walked off.
The victim needed stitches to his lip.
We have been carrying out enquiries in the area and reviewing CCTV, and are looking to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time. As it is an industrial area, there may be people who were going to and from work.
The suspect was described as white, aged in his early 20s, with very blond, short hair and blue eyes. He was about 6ft tall, of slim build and wore dark trousers, a dark jacket and a light coloured top.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Harlow CID quoting reference 42/182919/20.
You can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm. Alternatively, you can call 101. Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org
A HARLOW man has been fined for breaching a community protection notice in Harlow Town Centre.
Jack Knight, aged 22, of Crown Gate, Harlow pleaded guilty at Chelmsford magistrates court to the following.
On 27/11/2020 at Harlow being an individual to whom a community protection notice had been issued, failed to comply with the notice in that you were drunk in a public place, namely Terminus Street in Harlow.
ESSEX Police are looking for 16 year-old Yaser Alsaghir who’s gone missing in Harlow.
He was reported missing from The Hides area on Saturday evening (5 December) and they have had a possible sighting in the Brockles Mead/Paringdon Road areas at around 9.25pm yesterday (Sunday 6 December).
He also frequents the town centre.
He is described as Asian, around 5ft 5ins tall and believed to be wearing all black clothing.
The police are worried about him and need to find him to make sure he’s ok.
If you’ve seen him or have any information about where he might be please call on 101 or 999 in an emergency quoting incident 1299 of 5 December.
A HARLOW man has been fined for assaulting a police officer and damaging a police cell.
Charlie Hatcher, aged 23, of Little Brays, Harlow pleaded guilty at Chelmsford magistrates court to the following.
On 08/04/2019 at Harlow in the county of Essex without lawful excuse, damaged Cell walls to the value of unknown belonging to Essex Police intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
On 08/04/2019 at Harlow in the county of Essex assaulted Police Sergeant 1489 Clarke, an emergency worker, namely Police Officer, acting in the exercise of his Contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.
A HARLOW man has pleaded guilty to a number of offences including sexual assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
Mark Sheppard, aged 59, of Netteswell Orchard, Harlow pled guilty to the following at Chelmsford Crown Court.
On August 19th, 2020 in Harlow intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when she did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that she was consenting
On 01/05/2019 and 08/10/2020 at Harlow persistently made use of a public electronic communications network for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another.
On 02/09/2020 at Harlow had with you, without good reason or lawful authority, in a public place Netteswell Orchard an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a kitchen knife.
Sheppard has been committed for sentence and will return to Chelmsford Crown Court on January 6th, 2021.
A HARLOW man is set to stand trial over possession of an air pistol and a baseball bat.
Stuart Smart, aged 45, of Spencers Croft, Harlow has pleaded not guilty to the following at Chelmsford magistrates court.
On 24/11/2020 at Harlow, had in your possession an imitation firearm, namely air pistol, with intent, by means thereof to cause another, to believe that unlawful violence would be used against him or another
On 24/11/2020 at Harlow without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, had with you in a public place, namely Bush Fair, an offensive weapon, namely baseball bat
On 24/11/2020 at Harlow without lawful excuse, damaged BMW to the value of 40.00 intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged
A trial date of December 23rd at Chelmsford Crown Court has been set.
THE EMERGENCY services attended at a street off Commonside Road on Tuesday evening after concerns for a male.
An East of England spokesperson said: “An ambulance, three hazardous area response team vehicles and a car from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were sent to Sibneys Green, Harlow, following calls concerned for the welfare of a man.
One patient was treated at the scene and transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital for further assessment and care.
THE FAMILY of murdered Estyna Blunnie have spoken to The Guardian about their eight year campaign for tighter rules on the reporting of murder.
In the early hours of June 26th, 2012, Kevin Blunnie’s daughter, Eystna Blunnie, 20, three days away from giving birth to her daughter, Rose Louise, was beaten to death in the street by her former abusive partner, Tony McLernon, 24. He was convicted of murder and child destruction in 2013. He will serve 27 years before he is eligible for parole.
Kevin Blunnie and his family continue to campaign to improve the system of investigation and accountability around femicide, the killing of a woman by a man.
Negative treatment by the media was one trial they had not expected to have to endure.
The full story plus a link to the report called Dignity for Dead Women can be found below.
HERE is an update of the hard work that the officers of Harlow have done over the weekend.
14 Arrests in Harlow
136 incidents attended of which were: 12 Covid Breaches, 9 Domestic Violence incidents, two missing persons, one mental health related, one RTC’s 1 hate crime.
Children as young as 12 are supplying your Christmas party drugs
THIS Christmas Essex residents are being urged to think about the supply chain behind recreational drugs, and consider the violence, intimidation and exploitation of vulnerable children that goes hand in hand with the movement of drugs around the County.
In order to get drugs, including ‘party drugs’, to those who take them, a supply chain of violence, grooming and modern slavery is established. Local children are being targeted right now, purely to move drugs and money through Essex, up and down to London and beyond, in County Lines.
County Lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal gangs move drugs across the country. They exploit vulnerable people, particularly children, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs, often referred to as ‘drug running’. They are forced to carry drugs between locations, usually on trains or coaches. Sometimes made to swallow or hide drugs inside their bodies so not to be detected. They are also forced to sell drugs to local users.
Last December, Southend on Sea Borough Council created #MerryMuletide a hard-hitting social media campaign that educated party going residents about the back story behind their illegal drugs. This year, the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council are joining with Southend and Essex Police to bring #MerryMuletide to the whole county and educate the public about the young people behind “just that one pill” or “one line of coke won’t hurt.”
While some young people are more at risk of being groomed than others, any young person could be at risk of being targeted by County Line Drug gangs. Children as young as 12 years old are recruited, often using social media, often enticed into the gang lifestyle with drugs, alcohol, money and the promise of friendship or a relationship.
People exploited in this way will quite often be exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse, they may not recognise themselves as victims, they don’t see that they have been groomed by older gang members to take part in criminal activity.
County Lines are run by gangs and a result there is a strong link between County Lines and violence with these children caught up in the middle of rival gang wars. It is a dangerous abusive and exploitative world.
Roger Hirst, Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner speaking for the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit said: “It’s important to realise County Lines doesn’t just happen in big cities. This is happening right across Essex, from Basildon to Braintree, Saffron Walden to Southend, Tendring to Thurrock – large towns to small villages. The children involved come from a variety of backgrounds and places in the County. They could be your neighbour, a friend’s son or daughter, or someone you see while walking around your hometown.”
Essex County Councillor Louise McKinlay, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “We are asking people to understand where drugs come from, the dangers of the supply chain and to subsequently think twice if they are tempted to buy or take recreational or “party” drugs, this Christmas or beyond. Recreational drug use can have catastrophic consequences on the lives of local children, whose vulnerability will be exploited in a way that can have devastating consequences.”
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: “Every single drug bought, including so called recreational drugs, can have a devasting human cost. The criminals running drugs gangs don’t care about anyone but themselves. They manipulate and exploit vulnerable people, including young children, drawing them into a world of violence from which they can feel there is no escape. Every day Essex Police is targeting the criminals running drugs gangs, locking them up, and keeping our communities safe. But we also need the public’s help to do this. Tell us if you are concerned someone you know is being exploited, or if you have information about drug dealing in your neighbourhood.”
Councillor Martin Terry, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Customer Contact at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council said: “Many people believe a little dabble in party drugs is harmless, but this is not the case at all. Aside from the dangers of taking drugs, in doing so you are directly contributing to our local children being exploited by criminal gangs. You are enabling a system where children are groomed and forced into a violent world that is incredibly hard to leave. This is only happening because people are buying these drugs. If you don’t buy, our children will be protected. This Christmas we are asking you to reconsider your choices, and to help us stop these criminals targeting our children.”
Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council and Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour, said: “We must all be vigilant when it comes to the devastating impact that County Lines has on our young children across Thurrock and neighbouring boroughs. We will not tolerate organised criminal gangs exploiting our children to take part in dangerous illegal activity which could put them at risk of physical, mental and sexual abuse. “We all need to take responsibility to help tackle this issue and support our young people. I’m pleased that Essex, Southend and Thurrock councils have joined forces with Essex Police to educate our residents about County Lines.”
The Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit is a partnership that carries out joint operations, interventions, awareness and education programmes to support young people who are being, or at risk of being, exploited and involved in crime. As a result, there is some great joint work happening across Southend, Essex and Thurrock to tackle County Lines and child criminal exploitation including positive activities and programmes for young people, health interventions, and education and awareness resources and campaigns.
For more information on County Lines visit https://www.essex.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/cl/county-lines/
If you think a child is in immediate danger, please phone 999.
A DRUG dealer has been jailed for more than five years.
George Campbell, 23, started running the Gav drug line less than a week after he was released from prison in May this year.
Officers from Op Raptor West started investigating the drug line and traced it back to Campbell, who was arrested on 31 July.
While he was being questioned, a warrant was executed at his girlfriend’s address in Woodcroft, Harlow, under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Officers found wraps of heroin and crack cocaine, and more than £700 in cash. There were also scales used for weighing drugs.
Campbell’s girlfriend, Sky Hughes, 19, was arrested at the scene.
Campbell, of Bohun Grove, Barnet, admitted possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine at hearings in September and October.
Hughes admitted permitting premises to be used to supply heroin and cocaine, and possession of criminal property at a hearing in September.
On Tuesday 8 December, Campbell was jailed for five years and seven months.
Hughes was sentenced to an 18-month community order and must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activity. She must also forfeit £705.
NINETY-nine people have been arrested for drink or drug driving offences in just the first 10 days of December.
Officers made 59 drug driving arrests, 34 drink driving arrests, and six for failing to provide a specimen.
Temporary Chief Inspector Emma Bullock, Head of Roads Policing, said:
“My officers are working proactively to target drink and drug drivers and that work has resulted in almost 10 arrests a day on average.
“Drinking and taking drugs affect your ability to drive and increases the chances of you being in a collision.
“With the year we’ve all had, we don’t want anyone to experience any more tragedy.
“This Christmas time it’s likely more people will be drinking at home than perhaps previous years but that doesn’t make you any less likely to be over the limit.
“And you could still be over the limit the next morning. A few hours of sleep or a cup of coffee won’t sober you up.”
On drug driving Chief Insp Bullock added: “We know the majority of drug drivers are habitual drug users, it’s part of their lifestyle.
“And we also know that a lot of people don’t realise there’s a drug driving limit or that you could be over that limit days after last taking drugs as it can stay in your system for 24, 48, 72 hours.
“If you drink or drug drive you could lose your licence which means you could lose your job. If you lose your job, you might not be able to pay your bills so you could lose your home.
“Even worse, you or someone else could lose your life.”
If you have any information about a drink or drug driver please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
ESSEX Police has defended its decision to not attend at a location after receiving a report of an unlawful gathering in Harlow.
An Essex Police spokesperson said:
“We were contacted at just after 1am on Sunday 13 December with concerns around a possible breach of COVID regulations at a premises in Momples Road.
“Unfortunately, as we were dealing with a number of serious incidents (including high risk missing people and various serious offences) we were unable to attend at the time of the call.
However we are looking into the matter and will be visiting the premises in question.
We welcome all calls from the public around possible breaches of COVID regulations and we are determined to do all we can to keep people safe and deal with those clearly and flagrantly breaking the rules.
“We would urge people to contact to get in touch either by calling us on 101 or using our Digital 101 live chat function on our website”.
Back in August, Essex Police apologised to Tumbler Road residents after they failed to attend at an unlawful gathering of over a hundred people at a house party in Nicholls Field.
