DETECTIVES are appealing for information following a street robbery in Tilbury.

A 46-year-old local woman had been walking home along Cowper Avenue shortly after 5:30pm on Friday, April 26 when she was approached by a man who punched her in the face before stealing her handbag.

He ran off down a nearby alleyway and jumped onto a waiting motorcycle which was ridden off at speed towards Feenan Highway.

Investigating Officer, Dc Clive Day, said: “Unfortunately, the woman has not been able to provide us with a description of her assailant just yet which is why we’re in need of passers-by as witnesses. A speeding motorcycle on Feenan Highway on a Friday evening would have caught the eye of a passing motorist or pedestrian and it is they who we need to speak to as they are likely to be able to tell us where it then travelled towards. Equally, if anyone saw the actual assault then they too are key witnesses.”

The woman’s handbag was later recovered from a back garden of a nearby house, but the thief had taken the mobile telephone and cash.

The woman was treated by paramedics for cuts and bruising to the face.

Anyone with information in connection with this street robbery is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses to a stabbing in Purfleet in which a man from east London sustained leg injuries.

The attack happened in Purfleet when a 24-year-old man from east London had been walking along Tank Hill Road shortly before 8:30pm on Sunday, May 5 and was approached by a group of young men. An altercation took place during which the London man was stabbed several times in a leg.

Investigating Officer, Dc Adam Stallard, said: “At this stage, we’re unclear what has happened between this man and the others and so do not know what instigated the fight and the subsequent stabbing. It all happened very close to the MOT centre and we’re hoping that any passing motorists or pedestrians saw the moments leading up to the altercation. One of the attackers had a ginger dog.”

The victim was conveyed by paramedics to Romford’s Queens Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. He remains there in a stable condition but is currently refusing to co-operate with police.

Anyone with information in connection with this stabbing is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A MAN has been found dead in Horndon-on-the-Hill.

Essex Ambulance Service were called to a property on The Square in Horndon on Sunday evening at 5pm.

A man in his thirties was found dead at the scene.

It is believed that the death may be drug related and is being treated by Essex Police as unexplained but not suspicious.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course to ascertain the cause of death.

MORE than 60 drivers are to be prosecuted for speeding and road racing offences after police intervened at an illegal cruiser event in south Essex.

Officers from the Essex Police Casualty Reduction Section used unmarked cars fitted with video recording equipment as well as other tactics to identify offenders on a section of dual carriageway near Lakeside shopping centre.

Drivers and spectators from throughout London and the South East took part in the “drifting” and road racing event on Saturday night, May 4.

Offenders have been identified through vehicle index numbers and they will be summonsed to court for various offences.

Sgt Simon Willsher, who led the police investigation, said: “Cruiser events in Essex are usually good-natured and enjoyed by hundreds of enthusiasts who meet to show off their cars and talk about their hobby.

“But there is always the minority of drivers who take part in illegal street racing and drifting events, putting their own lives and the lives of spectators at risk.

“On Saturday night at Lakeside cars were racing at up to 80mph along a section of road that has a 40mph limit. These speeding cars were passing only inches from spectators who had no crash barriers or railings to protect them had any of those cars crashed out of control.

“We will continue to act robustly to deal with drivers who break the law while taking part in these events.”

A DATE has been set for the trial of two brothers accused of murdering a man near to a Grays nightclub.

Owen Wood, 23 and his younger brother, Ryan Wood, denied the murder charge when appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The trial is expected to last up to three weeks and is set to begin at Chelmsford on Monday, September 16.

Both men, from Godman Road, Grays, were remanded in custody until then.

A MAN from east London is today (Saturday) beginning a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to seriously injuring a motorcyclist in a road crash in south Essex.

The collision happened in Bulphan when a Ford Transit and a Suzuki GSXR 100 struck each other at the junction of Church Road and the A128 shortly after 8pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012.

The motorcyclist, a 30-year-old man from Tilbury, was conveyed to Royal London Hospital and treated for his injuries. He is continuing with his recovery, but at a specialist hospital where he is expected to remain for several more months.

In January 2013, Jake Radford was charged with one count of dangerous driving, one count of causing Grievous Bodily Harm and one count of fraudulently obtaining car insurance. He pleaded guilty to these offences and, on Friday, May 17 at Basildon Crown Court, the 22-year-old unemployed man from Albert Walk in Beckton was sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment.

Investigating Officer, Pc Natacha Hasler, said: “Jake Radford has shown no remorse for what he has done and has left Nicky Harris to recover from his terrible injuries. This case once again highlights the consequences of poor driving and the Serious Collision Investigation Unit will relentlessly pursue all those who drive poorly, especially when others are killed or seriously injured.”

Jake Radford was also disqualified from driving for four years and must pass an extending driving test if he wishes to have his licence returned.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault at a taxi rank outside a cinema in Lakeside which has left a man with a multi-fractured jaw.

The assault happened at the taxi rank outside VUE at Lakeside Shopping Centre shortly after 1am on Saturday, May 5. A group of friends had left nearby Las Iguanas and were returning home after an enjoyable night out in the bar. As they queued for a car, a male passenger got out of a taxi and punched one of the group before returning to the vehicle. It was then driven off, leaving a 38-year-old man with serious facial injuries.

Investigating Officer, Pc Siobhan Murphy, said: “We originally had been contacted by nurses at Basildon University Hospital who were concerned at the extent of the injuries that this man had sustained. He was going to be transferred to Broomfield to have reconstructive surgery. He is still recovering from and finds it difficult to talk. We want to speak to those people who were queuing for a taxi in the early hours of that Bank Holiday Saturday morning and who saw this assault to come forward. They may be able to explain why this man was attacked or whether it was totally unprovoked.”

The victim’s jaw was broken in three places and he is now recovering at his home in Stanford-le-Hope.

A 26-year-old man from Grays was arrested two days after the assault and is currently on police bail until Tuesday, May 21 pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information in connection with this assault is urged to contact investigating officers at Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A GRAYS woman was fined £500 and ordered to pay full costs of nearly £1,000 after not clearing rubbish from her garden.

On Friday (17 May) Basildon Magistrates found Victoria Porter a private tenant living at Whitehall Lane, Grays, guilty of Breaching a Notice served under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949.

Porter did not attend court and was found guilty in her absence.

The court heard the notice was served after environmental protection officers from Thurrock Council visited the home in September last year following a complaint.

A large accumulation of rubbish was seen with items in it that could harbour or entice vermin including food waste and putrescible items of household waste.

Porter failed to remove the rubbish, breaching the notice and was fined £500, ordered to pay £15 victim support, and full costs of £971.23 – a total of £1.486.23.

TWO men have been charged with drug offences after police stopped a van carrying an estimated £1million of cannabis in south Essex.

Officers carried out a routine stop check on a Transit van at Ockendon Road, North Ockendon at about 12.30pm on Monday May 20.

A crate containing nearly half a ton of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of £1million, was found in the back of the vehicle.

Other drugs, including a large quantity of amphetamine with an estimated value of £300,000, were seized following searches in east London.

James Bailey, 37, a taxi driver, from Henshawe Road, Dagenham, was charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing amphetamine with intent to supply and producing a controlled drug.

Andrew Fraser, 49, a plumber, of Green Lane, Ilford, was charged with two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

They were remanded in police custody to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday May 21 and further remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Crown Court on July 28.

THE ESSEX Police Crime Commissioner has gone on the record to set the record straight over his office costs.

Mr Alston made the statement after the Daily Mail published a story that claimed that £16,952 of taxpayers’ cash was spent on re-vamp of the office that was formerly used by the Essex Police Authority.

The Mail claimed that more than £10,000 had been spent on wall coverings and £2,482 on the kitchen at the Chelmsford offices.

Mr Alston said: “I have been astonished by a newspaper story today about the redecoration of my office. It claims I have ‘made an admission’ of spending money to refurbish my office.

After I was elected on 15 November last year, like all other Police and Crime Commissioners I formally started work on 22 November.

The former Essex Police Authority had made arrangements for me (or whoever was successful in the election) to work from its office building in Chelmsford. This had previously had a large conference room, a number of offices where
the Authority staff worked and, I understand, a room used by the authority members as a lounge with a coffee machine and seating.

“The previous Authority, or its staff, decided as that room would be redundant it would be converted into an office for me. As that work was done, I gather it was decided to repaint most of the first floor of the
building, including the office that would become mine. The carpets were cleaned too as the building had been well used.

I took no part whatsoever in any of those decisions although the work was not completed until shortly after I arrived.

My office is modestly furnished with standard issue furniture. I am using an existing office chair. The walls, like all the others in the building, are painted with emulsion paint. It is functional and entirely
pleasant.

There is no coffee machine in my office or anywhere else in the office; I bring in my own instant coffee.

We do have a small ‘kitchen’ where tea and coffee can be made by staff and for visitors; and there is a microwave where the staff can heat their lunches etc.

THURROCK Council and Essex Police have taken action to stop the roads around the Lakeside shopping centre being used as a racetrack.

On Saturday (1 June) a dispersal order, allowing police to disperse groups of two or more people if there is evidence of anti-social behaviour or danger to the public, will come into force.

In May last year Essex Police became aware of a “racetrack route” dubbed by cruisers as the Lakeside GP – circling the whole area of Lakeside from the Arena Essex / Moto Services roundabout, around the shopping centre and back up to the A13.

A dispersal order was successfully sought last year and, as they only last for six months, the council and police are following it up again.

Internet-based clips have been posted by spectators as recently as 4 May this year, showing large numbers of people standing along the route and in the road

Filming the racing vehicles would have posed a significant threat of injury to pedestrians/onlookers and in March – while police were deployed in the area – they saw a near-miss where a racing car lost control and veered into the crowd of spectators. Luckily nobody was hurt and the driver was dealt with for driving offences.

Insp Leigh Norris of the West Thurrock Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This incident highlights the significant risk to spectators as well as the drivers. There have also been reports of cars being driven on the wrong side of the road, swerving around members of the public as well as the noise pollution from exhausts and car stereos which upset local residents.”

Since the beginning of March 2013 this year, police have issued many fixed penalty notices for speeding, obstruction, having no insurance and/or no seatbelt, plus one arrest for being drunk and disorderly.

Cllr Angie Gaywood, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, added: “The summer months generally see an increase in the numbers of vehicles involved in these gatherings – and police say they have already seen a rise in the numbers of reports to date this year.

“A dispersal order, granted for a up to six months, allows the police to act and prevent people being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed, for a period of up to 24 hours.”

Insp Norris added that if the order to disperse is not followed, those breaking it can be arrested.

The order provides police with with extra powers to disperse large groups of people and help reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road collisions as well as combating the anti-social use of roads.

Cllr Gaywood said: “I believe the majority of cruisers and car enthusiasts are law-abiding people and – other than their being in one place in large numbers – do not cause significant problems.

“Unfortunately there is an element within them who are willing to risk lives by racing on public roads.”

And Insp Norris said: “Essex Police recognise and support the rights of car enthusiasts to gather in public and socialise together, but we will not tolerate anyone who is willing to put other road users at risk or disrupt the local community and will deal with them robustly.”

Chafford councillor Charlie Key said “This is an issue residents regularly raise with Cllr Ojetola and I, and we wholeheartedly support this dispersal order.

“Cruising is a significant problem locally, and in coming to this conclusion has required Essex Police, the Council, councillors, Lakeside and our MP Jackie Doyle-Price to work together. I am sure residents will notice the benefits of this joint effort.”

A MAN is due to appear in court next month (June) in connection with a burglary in Stanforf-le-Hope.

The break-in happened in Stanford-le-Hope on Thursday, May 16 when thieves entered a house on London Road. Officers arrived and saw a van driving away from the scene. Its driver failed to stop for them and drove into a police car.

Andrew Tyler was arrested at the scene and on Tuesday, May 28 was charged with one count of burglary with intent to steal, one count of theft of a car, one count of dangerous driving, one count of driving without insurance, one count of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and one count of aggravated vehicle driving.

The 20-year-old unemployed man from St Margarets Avenue in Stanford-le-Hope is currently on police bail prior to his appearance at Basildon Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 13.

A second man, a 22-year-old local man was also arrested at the scene. He is currently on police bail until Tuesday, July 2 pending further enquiries into alleged drug-dealing.

POLICE have issued an E Fit of a man they want to question in connection with an attempted burglary at a property in London Road, Aveley on May 14.

The suspect was seen knocking on doors in the area and when there was no reply he attempted to gain entry via the front door around 1.15pm. However he was disturbed and ran off empty handed.

There was another burglary on the same day, discovered by the owner when they returned home. This was in the same road and thieves stole fishing and golf equipment by forcing the door. This could be connected to the other attempted burglary and police are asking for anyone with information to contact them.

Anyone who recognises the man in the E Fit or has any other information is asked to contact detectives at Grays CID on 101.

BRITISH Transport Police has issued CCTV images of five people officers want to speak to after a woman was racially abused on a train between Rainham and Purfleet.

Officers are renewing their appeal for information in relation to the offence, which took place on Saturday, 20 April, between 10.50pm and 11.05pm.

Following an initial appeal for information last month, images have been isolated of a number of people police want to speak to, as it is believed they were in the area at the time and could hold key information.

Investigating officer PC Gary Martin said: “The victim, a 21-year-old woman from the local area, boarded the train at West Ham at 10.44pm.

“While onboard, she was approached and abused by a group of six or seven men, who made racial insults towards her.

“It is believed they boarded the train at Rainham shortly before 11pm and stayed on the train after she left at Purfleet.”

The offence took place on board the 10.35pm London Fenchurch Street to Grays train, which arrived at 11.12pm, and stopped at Limehouse, West Ham, Barking, Dagenham Dock, Rainham and Purfleet.

Officers now want to hear from those pictured, or anyone who recognises them, as part of the investigation.

PC Martin added: “Understandably, this person was left very shaken and upset by this encounter, and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible.”

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting B5/LNA of 25/04/2013. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anony-mously, on 0800 555 111.

THREE people have been charged with drug offences following the execution of a drugs warrant in Grays in January.

Lauren Strutt, 26, and Tommy Strutt, 27, of Crofton Road, have been charged with producing a controlled class B drug and abstracting electricity after 55 plants were recovered from the address following a warrant on January 4.

Scott Monk, 27, of Woodrush road, Ipswich, was also charged with producing a controlled class B drug and abstraction of electricity as well as possessing a weapon for the discharge of an electrical current.

They have all be released on police bail to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court on June 14.

BURGLARIES in the east of the borough have risen close to an alarming 100% since 2012.

Stanford and Corringham residents have raised concerns at the apparent rapid increase in thefts in the area. From burglaries, to thefts from sheds, to thefts from cars, there was a clear sense that acquisitive crime was on the increase.

But with the recession now in its fifth year, was there really an increase over the past twelve months?

YT submitted a Freedom of Information request to Essex Police and asked the following question.

Q. Could you tell me how many burglaries there were in the Stanford/Corringham area between Jan 1st-March 31st in 2012 and the same period in 2013?

Essex Police replied:

Stanford Le Hope West: 2012:16 2013:38

The Homestead: 2012:11 2013:12

Stanford Le Hope East: 2012:11 2013:22

Corringham and Fobbing 2012:16 2013:20

This makes a total of 92 in 2013 compared to 54 in 2012. Close onto a 100% increase.

The increase begs a number of questions. With the recession, now in its fifth year, why has there been such a rapid rise over the last twelve months?

Some may question whether the £43 million pounds worth of cuts to Essex Police have had an impact?

One resident believed that a comment by a group of local youths may hold the key.

The resident (who did not wish to be named) said: “A group of youths were causing annoyance near my shop. I came out to remonstrate and warned them that I would call the police. They just laughed at me and said, “There are no police….”

Next week, YT will be putting these figures to the Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, Nick Alston.

Stanford East councillor, Phil Smith (Lab) sees the spike as a consequence of political actions.

Cllr Smith said: “For me it would seem reasonable to draw the conclusion that the cuts imposed by this Tory lead coalition on the police have had a direct result on the increase in number of burglaries. A police presence reassures residents that they are safe plus it deters criminal activities.

“When you look at the numbers they are not massive but for each one of these people it will feels like they have been violated, you do not feel safe in your own home and in a lot of cases it is items of sentimental value that have been taken and they can never be replaced.

“I would call on the Local Police Commissioner to fight the cuts and to increase the numbers of police back to at least the numbers we had before the Tory lead coalition started on its failed program of cuts.”

Conservative Homesteads councillor, Sue MacPherson has also pledged to look into the figures.

POLICE have issued a warning following a spate of catalytic convertor thefts in Stanford-le-Hope.

There have been four committed in the area in the last month and officers are advising motorists to be vigilant.

These included the theft of a catalytic convertor from a white LDV Maxus panel van in Church Road, Corringham, between 6.30pm on Sunday May 5 and 10.50pm on Monday May 6.

Graham Anthony, Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor with Essex Police, said: “Thieves like to steal from vehicles parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen and caught. Try to ensure that you always park in areas of good lighting and natural surveillance opportunities. If you have a fleet of parked vehicles, block those with high clearance using vehicles with low clearance. This will help to obstruct access underneath the vehicle.

“There are special products designed to frustrate the theft of catalytic converters. These include special clamps and security marking systems. Think about starting a Neighbourhood Watch or Business Watch scheme, a good way to get everyone working together to discourage crime and make the place in which you live and work better and safer for everyone.”

Anyone with information should call Grays police station on 101.

A HOAX caller sparked a major police response after reports of armed people in Corringham.

Essex Police dispatched several police cars and mobilised the police helicopter to Park Road, Corringham at 10.20am today (Tues June 4th) after reports of armed people at a location in the area.

Officers attended and surrounded the property but it was later established the call was a hoax.

Police are continuing the investigate the circumstances.

A 50-year-old Leytonstone man will appear at Basildon Magistrates Court today charged with animal abuse reports a newspaper.

Desmond Gogarty, of Apollo Place, is accused of kicking a dog in Grays, Essex, on April 27 and is charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, in violation of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

POLICE are seeking the identity of a man caught on CCTV at Morrisons store in Grays. The man spoke to a young schoolboy near the toilets in an attempted accosting on May 22, around 3.50pm. The child was unharmed and the man then left the store.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Adam Hall at Grays, on 101.