Update: Elizabeth Cook has now been found.
HAVE you seen Elizabeth Cook, who is missing from her home in Grays?
The 27-year-old was last seen at about 6am today, Saturday, April 14 and her family and police are concerned for her welfare.
She was last seen wearing a red jacket, black leggings and black trainers with white soles.
Anyone who has seen Elizabeth is asked to call Grays police station on 101.
The post Woman missing from Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.
ESSEX Police would like to talk to these men in connection with a knife point robbery at a shop in Tilbury on Wednesday, April 11.
At around 6.05am two men walked into Dods newsagents in Broadway armed with knives and threatened a member of staff.
One of the suspects demanded cash while the other pushed over a display on the shop counter.
They both then left the building empty handed.
The first suspect has been described as being white, 5ft 8ins and of an average build and the second suspect has been described as being white, 5ft 10ins and of an average build.
Officers attended the scene armed with a Taser but were unable to locate the men described.
Anyone who has information or CCTV and dashcam footage at around the time of the incident is asked to contact Dc Edward Gosling at Grays CID quoting crime reference 42/49119/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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A MAN whose use of an imitation firearm caused youths to flee in terror has been jailed for over 10 years.
Peter Brown, 29 (06.04.1989) of Hope Street, Stanford-le-Hope was sentenced to 10 years and nine months at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 13 April.
He had pleaded guilty at the same court on Tuesday, 10 April, to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.
The court heard how on Friday, 25 August 2017 at 19:00hrs, a group of young men were in Wellington Road, Newham.
Suddenly a car pulled up and the back doors opened and CCTV recorded two handguns being brandished at the youths. Understandably, the young men can then be seen to run away in terror.
As the car drove off, it stopped for moments and the guns were brandished again, and then the car made off.
A member of the public had seen the incident and alerted police.
An immediate investigation was begun by detectives from the Trident and Area Crime Command.
Brown was identified as being the driver of the car seen in the CCTV.
He was arrested at his home address on Sunday, 2 September 2017 and charged the next day and kept in custody.
Detective Rob Jones of Trident, said: “Although nobody was injured, brandishing a pistol at people causing them to fear they will be shot is a despicable act. This offence took place opposite a children’s playground on a warm summers evening. Those who were threatened can be seen on CCTV running for their lives. Incidents like this cause fear in communities and are traumatic for all those who witness it.
“Detectives at Trident were determined to find who was responsible and Brown was quickly arrested. Thanks to the evidence gathered he had no option but to plead guilty. Possession of firearms, be they imitation or not, will not be taken lightly and punished accordingly by the courts.”
Brown was also sentenced for an unrelated matter of fraud by mis-representation where two elderly women at cash points were distracted by Brown and a co-defendant, who then took the cards when the women went into the bank thinking they had been taken by the cash machine; £1,400 in cash was withdrawn. He was sentenced to three months for each offence to run concurrently.
The post Stanford-le-Hope man who brandished imitation firearm at youths jailed for over 10 years appeared first on Your Thurrock.
Can you help officers from British Transport Police identify this man?
They would like to speak with him in connection to a sexual exposure on board a train travelling between Grays and Tilbury. The incident happened between 6.48am and 7am on 12 March.
A 14-year-old girl was sat on the train when a man sat across from her in the aisle and started to touch himself inappropriately. He stared at the girl whilst touching himself.
He then left the train at Tilbury.
Officers would like to speak with the man in the CCTV image as they believe he has information that could help the investigation.
You can pass information to BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 446 of 12/03/2018. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The post Search for man suspected of indecently exposing him on train near Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.
A MAN from Tilbury faces several charges in relation to acts of violence against women.
Zach McCarthy, aged 22, of Tennyson Walk, Tilbury has been charged with the following.
On 09/11/2017 at Stanford-le-Hope assaulted a woman by beating her.
On 05/04/2018 at Grays having been arrested by a constable for breaking a bail condition, namely Exclusion: not to contact directly or indirectly a woman, being a person released on 08/02/2018 by Basildon Magistrates Court being under a duty to surrender into the custody of a court.
On 10/03/2018 at Stanford-le-Hope without lawful excuse, destroyed the victims mirror and clothing to the value of unknown belonging to a woman intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
Between 10/03/2018 and 05/04/2018 at Essex, with intent to cause a woman, 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.
McCarthy pleads not guilty.
The post Tilbury man charged in relation to assaults on women appeared first on Your Thurrock.
ESSEX Police are investigating following reports a man was forced into a car on The Circle in Tilbury.
Just before 9.25pm on Wednesday, April 17, a man dressed in a grey jacket and grey tracksuit was believed to be forced into a Land Rover Discovery by a group of men.
The vehicle has since been recovered and will be forensically examined.
A number of lines of enquiry are currently being investigated, including the possibility of the victim no longer being held by the men. If you have any information, particularly if you are the man forced into the vehicle, we would urge you to contact us.
Whether you saw this incident take place, or know someone who may have been involved, please call 101 quoting incident 1218 of 17/04 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
This is being treated as a targeted and isolated incident.
The post Police investigate possible abduction in Tilbury appeared first on Your Thurrock.
SNIFFER dogs helped Trading Standards officers seize 29,000 counterfeit or illegally imported cigarettes in a series of inspections carried out at tobacconists last week.
Teams accompanied by specially trained dog teams from BWI Canine visited 16 shops in Grays, Little Thurrock and Tilbury last week as part of a crackdown on tobacconists suspected of selling illegal cigarettes. Searches by the dogs found illicit tobacco, sometimes hidden away in secret compartments in ceilings and walls.
A spokesperson for Thurrock Council said: “The sale of both counterfeit and non-duty paid tobacco generate significant income for organised criminal gangs and helps to fund other criminal activities.
“As well as filling the coffers of criminal gangs counterfeit cigarettes can be extremely dangerous; there are no guarantees about the quality of tobacco or even what is in them. In the past test tests have shown that rat poison and faeces were both found in counterfeit tobacco.
“We will continue to work to eradicate the sale of counterfeit and illegally smuggled tobacco from the shops of Thurrock.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report the sale of illicit tobacco to Trading Standards by calling 03454 040 506.
The post Thurrock Council sniffer dogs find thousands of counterfeit cigarettes across Thurrock appeared first on Your Thurrock.
A MAN from Grays faces a trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted a child.
John Garner, aged 51, of Orsett Road, Grays, faces a total of eight charges in relation to sexual conduct with a child.
Garner has been released on conditional bail.
His next appearance at Basildon Crown Court is on May 10th.
The post Grays man faces trial over sex attacks on child appeared first on Your Thurrock.
ESSEX Police have started a murder investigation following the death of a woman in West Thurrock this morning (Friday, April 20).
They were called at around 8.30am with reports a woman had been assaulted near to the A1306 Arterial Road.
A spokesperson said: “When we arrived we found a woman who was seriously injured but sadly, despite the best efforts by paramedics, she died a short time later.
A 31 year-old man from Birmingham has been arrested nearby on suspicion of murder.
The road has been closed so we can investigate and it is unlikely to re-open for some time.
If you saw what happened, were driving in the area and have dash cam footage, or have any other information please call us on 101 quoting incident 228 of 20/04 or scd.appeals@essex.pnn.police.uk.
Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
We’d like to thank the members of the public who tried to help the victim and detained the man before we arrived.
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Statement from East of England Air Ambulance Service
“We were called today (20th April) at 8.31am to an incident on the Arterial Road, A1306, West Thurrock.
A rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer, an ambulance crew and an air ambulance from Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) were sent to help.
They treated a woman at the scene. However despite their best efforts the patient sadly died.”
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ESSEX Police have charged a man with murder following the death of a woman in West Thurrock yesterday, Friday, April 20.
Florin Ion, 31, unemployed, of Ipswich Crescent, Birmingham, is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court today.
A police spokesperson said: “We received reports at 8.30am yesterday that a 47-year-old woman, from Rainham, had been assaulted near to the A1306 Arterial Road.
When we arrived we found a woman who was seriously injured but sadly, despite the best efforts by paramedics, she died a short time later.
“If you saw what happened, were driving in the area and have dash cam footage, or have any other information please call us on 101 quoting incident 228 of 20/04 or scd.appeals.essex@essex.pnn.police.uk.
“Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111”.
The post Man charged with murder following death in West Thurrock appeared first on Your Thurrock.
ESSEX Police have charged two people after responding to reports of criminal damage in Grays yesterday, Friday, April 20.
A 13-year-old boy, who cannot be name for legal reasons, was charged with assaulting a police officer and is due to appear at Basildon Youth Court on Tuesday, May 29.
Paul Docherty, 36, of Beaconsfield Road, Enfield, was charged with criminal damage and assault while resisting arrest. He is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 21.
A police spokespersn said: “We received a call at 2.40pm from Thurrock Council about criminal damage to bollards in Thames Road.
“We attended to find an unauthorised traveller encampment and while making enquiries with the local authority, our officers reported that they were pushed and kicked.
“Two people were arrested and we served Section 61 notices before the site was vacated later that day.
The post Two charged with criminal damage and police assault at illegal traveller encampment on Grays Beach Park appeared first on Your Thurrock.
AN APPEAL has been made after a motorbike was stolen from Chafford Hundred overnight (Friday)
The orange KTM 150 motorbike was taken from Cardinal Road in Chafford Hundred on Friday night between 2200 hrs and 0600 hrs this morning.
If you have any information, then please contact us at newsdesk@yourthurrock.com
The post Appeal after distinctive motorbike stolen in Chafford Hundred appeared first on Your Thurrock.
Update on armed mass brawl in Tilbury
Statement from Essex Police
“We are appealing for information about a disturbance in Leighton Gardens, Tilbury, at around 10.30pm yesterday, Saturday, April 21.
We received several calls reporting of up to eight people arguing in the street and holding weapons, including knives, bricks and metal poles.
“We also received reports that a silver Ford Focus drove at the group but missed and fled the scene. We understand had damaged windows.
“We attended the scene and the group had dispersed. There were no reported injuries.
“We then searched a nearby property and found an imitation firearm before arresting a 36-year-old man on suspicion of possession of firearms offences. We later arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of affray. Both remain in custody for questioning.
“Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage at around the time of the incident is asked to contact Grays CID on 101 quoting incident 1317 of 21/04 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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ESSEX Police has reported that they made “multiple arrests” at an incident in Tilbury on Saturday night.
The Grays Local Polcing Team stated on Twitter: “A multi team deployment in Tilbury following a disturbance resulted in multiple arrests and seizure of multiple weapons including a crossbow.
Residents in the Chadwell St Mary and Tilbry area were aware of the police helicopter circling the area for quite a time.
With a large police presence in Chafford Hundred at the same time, it looked the thin blue line was stretched to its limit on Saturday night.
YT has contacted Essex Police for a cmment.
The post Update: Armed disturbance in Tilbury appeared first on Your Thurrock.
DETECTIVES investigating a murder in West Thurrock are now in a position to name the woman who died.
Julie Hunt, 47, from Rainham, east London, sadly died of her injuries following an assault near to A1306 Arterial Road at around 8.30am on Friday, April 20.
Florin Ion, 31, who is unemployed, of Ipswich Crescent, Birmingham, was charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday, April 24.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Tracey Harman, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Our investigation has progressed with officers spending many hours taking witness statements, reviewing CCTV and dash cam footage and making enquiries in the local area. We now have a clearer picture around the circumstances of this awful attack.
“However, there are still a number of people we would like to talk to and we are making attempts to locate up to six drivers who are key witnesses in this investigation.
“Dedicated family liaison officers are continuing to support Ms Hunt’s family during this investigation and I ask members of the community to respect their privacy during this difficult and distressing time.”
If you were driving along the A1306 Arterial Road at around 8.30am on Friday, April 20, and you have information, then please call the Serious Crime Directorate on 101 quoting incident 228 of 20/04 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The post Police name woman who died in West Thurrock attack appeared first on Your Thurrock.
TILBURY councillors have made a withering attack on police and politicans as violence erupted on their streets at the weekend.
Leighton Gardens and Melba Gardens have been the centre of a number of disturbances over the last year.
At the weekend there was another large disturbance with reports of firearms and crossbows being used.
YT asked two local councillors to make genral comments about crime in their area.
Cllr Steve Liddiard said: “I think the police gave up the fight against drugs, several years ago. Drug dealers are in every road. The gang culture is developing. Young men 13 upwards are being groomed.
“At 13 it’s cool to know a drug dealer and be able to make a quid every delivery. When turf wars erupt, these kids are in the middle and get hurt. Knives are carried by the hardened and the frightened. Guns are quite rare but are available to the drug bosses.
Why is it that local people know the culprits but fear reprisals and say nothing? Why do police downplay the seriousness of this evil. Politicians won’t admit failure.
‘The drug dealers survive because residents fear retribution. Smoking skunk can be smelt , if not seen, in every street. I also get to see the the few who steal, prostitute themselves or become mentally ill through substance abuse.
There are too many addicts who are willing to be the receiver of packages in the post for a quick fix.
Parents are generally naive to their children’s activities. Snapchat and instagram are the communication tools.
Police have all the tools to fix this problem, so why don’t they? They might be scared, they might turn a blind eye, there may be corruption but more likely, not enough police to cope.
Thurrock Independents’ Tilbury Cllr, John Allen said: “I have been calling on the Conservative’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to put more police in Tilbury but so far we have seen nothing.
“When he came to Thurrock Council recently I asked him if he believes that parts of Thurrock have become lawless. He dodged the question, if he honestly felt he had control of the situation in Thurrock he should have been able to answer that question.
“A year ago he was happily taking services out of Tilbury. Unfortunately his model of policing by numbers on a spreadsheet isn’t working, residents are sick of the poor 101 service and have given up reporting incidents to the police. He needs to get more police on the beat, have a visible presence in Tilbury everyday.
“Residents can be forgiven for believing that neither the Council or the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, have any real interest in helping the people of Tilbury.”
As there is a local election in this area on May 3rd, here is a list of the candidates.
Tilbury St Chads
Steve Liddiard (Labour Party)
Paul Martin (Thurrock Independents)
Steve Minett (Conservative Party)
The post Crime in Tilbury: Councillors : “Police gave up the fight against drugs long ago” appeared first on Your Thurrock.
A THURROCK man was among nine arrested over violent clashes over violent clashes before the Liverpool v Roma Champions League semi-final first leg last night (Tuesday) reports the Liverpool Echo.
Merseyside Police said the arrests were made in relation to various alleged offences – including attempted murder, affray, Section 47 assault, possession of offensive weapons, possession of a controlled drug, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.
A man attacked before the match remains in a critical condition this morning – police have confirmed.
Among the arrests were a 35-year-old man from Thurrock who was arrested for affray and has been taken to a police station to be interviewed.
Liverpool FC have also released a fresh statement urging people with information to contact the police and praising the emergency services.
It states: “Liverpool Football Club will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to establish an understanding of the facts, following a serious and disturbing incident at Anfield last night which has left a 53-year-old supporter in a critical condition in hospital.
“The club’s first priority is the safety of all fans attending matches.
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MORE than 6,000 grooming crimes have been recorded by police in England and Wales since April 2013, new Home Office figures show.
There were a total of 2,996 grooming crimes recorded from April to December 2017, which included the new offence of Sexual Communication with a Child, brought into force in April 2017, as well as offences for Meeting a Child After Grooming.
In Essex, 93 grooming crimes were recorded last year. But from 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2017, Essex Police recorded a total of 181 offences. Across England and Wales there were 6,341 offences over the last five years.
The NSPCC’s #WildWestWeb campaign is calling on Culture Secretary Matt Hancock to bring in a mandatory safety code to regulate social networks to keep children safe online and help prevent grooming.
Mr Hancock is in the process of drawing up an Internet Safety Strategy, but it is expected to bring in a social media safety code which is voluntary in nature and the Strategy will include no plans to prevent grooming.1
Last week the charity revealed that Facebook and Facebook-owned apps, Instagram and Whatsapp, were used in 52% of online grooming cases where police disclosed which methods were used by suspects. The youngest child to be targeted in the first nine months of the new offence of Sexual Communication with a Child was just two years old.
Tony Stower, NSPCC Head of Child Safety Online, said: “These thousands of crimes show the sheer scale of grooming, where predators have either messaged their victim or gone on to meet them in person.
“At present our Government is only prepared to tackle grooming after the harm has been done, and its forthcoming Internet Safety Strategy has no plans to prevent grooming from happening in the first place.
“Culture Secretary Matt Hancock could change this and bring an end to the Wild West Web. I urge him to bring in regulation for social networks, backed by an independent regulator with teeth.”
The post Close to a hundred grooming offences in Essex last year appeared first on Your Thurrock.
ESSEX Police want to speak to Reece Mashiter in connection with an allegation of rape.
The offence was reported to have taken place in Grays in October 2017.
Mashiter is also wanted under a court warrant for breaching a suspended sentence.
The man has links to Grays.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact DC Grant Welbourne at Grays Police Station on 101.
Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org
The post Grays man wanted over allegation of rape appeared first on Your Thurrock.
SEMI-professional footballer died “on the spot” when attacked by a teenager with an axe or a knife, a court heard.
Kevin Malthouse, 24, from Stanford-le-Hope, played for Tilbury FC and died in Grays, Essex, on 1 July.
Chelmsford Crown Court was told he and three others were attacked by Jack Taylor in a fight between two groups reports the BBC.
Taylor, 19, of Oakley Close, Grays, and his driver Dusan Samardzija, 23, of Cypress Path, Romford, deny murder and three counts of grievous bodily harm.
Dorian Lovell-Pank QC said the two groups were outside The Treacle Mine pub, when Mr Taylor accused “someone from Tilbury” of having a “beef” with people from Grays.
Once one of the Tilbury group, Mason Aldwinckle, was inside “Taylor or someone else” slashed his car tyres, the court heard.
Mr Lovell-Pank said the two groups parted but drove around looking for each other in Ford Fiestas, meeting in Blackshot Lane at about 00:30 BST.
At least three men got out of the car belonging to the Tilbury group and one of them smashed Mr Samardzija’s wing mirror with a golf club, he said.
The court heard a melee then followed in which Mr Taylor killed Mr Malthouse and seriously injured three others – Mr Aldwinckle, Vicky Gall and Wesley Gregg.
“Kevin Malthouse suffered two wounds to the chest. One of which punctured his heart and he died quickly in the street,” said Mr Lovell-Pank.
Mr Taylor told police he picked up a knife “from the floor” and “began waving it”. He added that he was “scared” and said: “I thought they would kill me.”
The court was told Mr Taylor’s DNA was found on a “commando kit” of weapons – including a meat cleaver and kitchen knives – at the scene, but he denied it was his property.
Samardzija told police that he had not got out of the car during the melee and that Taylor had slashed Mr Aldwinckle’s tyres.
The trial continues.
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ESSEX Police are investigating a robbery at a Co-op store in Grays.
A man, armed with what has been described as a large knife, went into the store in Lodge Lane at around 8.10pm on Sunday, April 29 and demanded money.
He made off with a three-figure sum.
He has been described to us as white, aged between 20 and 25, and wearing a blue hooded top and tracksuit bottoms with stripes down the side.
If you saw anything, were driving in the area and have dash cam footage, or have any other information about the incident please contact us on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/58951/18.
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