POLICE have appealed for information after a man suffered serious injuries in an assault at South Ockendon.

The victim was walking alone along Afton Drive, near the junction with Daiglen Drive at about 1.30am on Monday July 8 when he was confronted by a man blocking his path.

A second man hit the victim from behind forcing him to fall to the ground. Both men kicked and stamped on the man leaving him with a fractured ankle. The man is still receiving medical treatment.

A 21-year-old man from South Ockendon was later arrested on suspicion of assault and possessing a controlled drug.

He was bailed until August 8 pending further enquiries.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about the assault should contact Pc David Bean of Thurrock Neighbourhood Crime Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

POLICE officers working with council officials checked a number of private hire vehicle in Basildon and Thurrock districts on Friday, July 12, to confirm their compliance with legislation.

A total of 86 taxis were checked with 62 having no compliance issues. Five taxis were found to have defective tyres and two of the drivers arranged immediate roadside replacements to allow them to continue working over the weekend.

One taxi checked had a number of mechanical faults, five did not have functioning fire extinguishers and there were a number of non-display of I.D badge issues which were rectified on the spot.

A taxi was taken off the road for a combination of mechanical faults including two rear seatbelts which were not working. The Basildon Council officer on scene in High Street, Wickford, removed his permit forcing him to stop work.

A check was also made at the site of a school prom at Ye Olde Plough House in Bulphan where one eight-seater stretch limousine was found with a driver who was unable to produce his taxi badge. He was reported for the offence and enquiries will be made with the local authority.

Pc Al Cuthbertson from the Commercial Vehicle Unit said: “This work highlights that public safety is a priority for both the police and local authorities and compliance is only achieved through enforcement.

“Taxi drivers will be reminded of their responsibilities to comply with the law at forthcoming interviews with licensing officers. Further checks are planned in the future.”

THURROCK Diversity Network is carrying out a survey as an Independent Community Organisation. They are interested in obtaining, gathering and hearing your views of Police Community Support Officers [PCSOs] in Thurrock and details of:

The actual real differences that the PCSOs make to you, your friends, neighbours and people you know in Thurrock.

The positive impact of PCSOs upon communities and people in Thurrock.

The added value the PCSOs bring to community safety and cohesion [making people feel like they belong to their neighbourhood] in Thurrock.

Note: You do not have to fill in all the boxes – simply answer as many as you can and tell us about your experiences when meeting/contacting PCSOs in Thurrock.

The survey is open to anyone who lives in, or has a connection to Thurrock.

The Deadline to complete & return the survey is: Friday 9th August 2013

Please find an online version of the survey is available at: http://www.surveyexpression.com/s/18108/TDN_PCSOS

MAGISTRATES in Basildon ordered an Aveley taxi driver to pay over £1,000 costs to Thurrock Council after having his appeal thrown out.

Robert Knight, 52, of Lowlands Road, had appealed against the February decision of the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee to revoke his Hackney Carriage/Private Hire licence.

The sub-committee hearing followed Mr Knight’s appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court in November last year where he was found not guilty of offences of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court was told the sub-committee heard that during his interviews with police Mr Knight had admitted carrying out a school contract using an unlicensed vehicle and carrying out private hire work booked and fulfilled by him without holding a Private Hire Operator’s Licence.

Sub-committee members were also concerned that he had been given instructions to avoid cameras and heard conversations relating to criminal activity and made no attempt to report the matter to police.

Mr Knight appealed the revocation of his licence.

On Monday (15 July) his appeal was dismissed and he was ordered to pay £1,104 costs.

Magistrates said their decision was made for the same reasons as Thurrock Council and that they were not satisfied he was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

THE NEXT Police and Crime Commissioner public meeting discussing crime and policing issues, will take place in Grays on Tuesday July 23, 2013, starting at 5:30pm.

Nick Alston aims to hold a public meeting in every district of Essex twice a year, working with colleagues from Essex Police, Community Safety Partnerships, district and unitary councils, partner organisations and the voluntary sector. These are important events for everyone who cares about the way their community is policed and who wants to know the facts about crime in their area.

Meetings have already taken place in Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Chelmsford, Dunmow, Rochford, Colchester, Brentwood, Maldon, Epping, Harlow, Castle Point, and Clacton, and the next event is scheduled for:

Thurrock:

Time: 17:30 to 19:30, Tuesday July 23

Location: Council Chambers, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays RM17 6SL

TWO men have been charged in connection with an incident which happened in the car park of a supermarket in Grays in May.

Rhys Grant, 18, of Star Lane, London E16, has been charged with one count of assault occasioning ABH and one count of assault by beating.

Anthony Shepherd, 18, of Clare Gardens, Barking, east London, was charged with assault by beating>

The charges relate to an incident in the Morrison’s supermarket car park in London Road, Grays, on May 2, where there was a disturbance following an alleged theft.

The pair will appear at Basildon Magistrates Court on August 1.

AN OCKENDON man has been acquitted of grievous bodily harm in relation to an attack in Grays Beach Park last year.

Daniel Trigg (24), Danbury Crescent, South Ockendon, was charged after an incident in July 2012, which left another ice cream man with his arm, reportedly, almost severed by an axe.

But Mr Trigg, an employee of Piccadilly Whip, was acquitted of all charges at Basildon Crown Court.

The victim and his workmates were all Turkish men from Tottenham and were selling ice creams from their van when they were attacked.

A 29-year-old man was left with a number of wounds. He was airlifted to hospital.

A spokesperson for Piccadilly Whip told YT: “We are pleased that Danny has been able to put this nightmare behind him and get on with his life. We are a family company that has been serving Thurrock and the rest of the country for over sixty years.”

A CHARITY Cream Tea Party has raised £950 for Little Havens Hospice which cares for seriously ill children and their families.

The party was organised by Jodie Gray, 25 from Romford Road in Aveley, and took place on Saturday 6th July. Around 130 guests arrived at Moor Hall in Aveley to enjoy delicious homemade cream teas and scones in glorious sunshine and beautiful surroundings. The guests also took part in a charity raffle with prizes including: a meal at the King William restaurant in Chigwell, gift vouchers, beauty treatments and lots of lovely homemade cakes.

Jodie said, “We decided to raise money for Little Havens because of the invaluable support and vital services they provide to children with life-limiting conditions, and their families, in Essex . I think it is so important to raise awareness for this charity who provide their services free of charge, because without our donations, they wouldn’t be able to continue with the fantastic work that they do. It’s a lovely feeling knowing that the money you raise and the fun you have through organising events like our cream tea party, will go to such a great cause and comfort or help the children of Little Havens Hospice in some way.”

Peter Hall, Little Havens Community Fundraiser, said: “I want to say a massive thank you to Jodie, and all her family, friends and guests who contributed in making her cream tea party such a success. The weather couldn’t have been better and everyone had a wonderful time in helping to raise funds for Little Havens. We don’t charge a penny for our care, but to do this we must raise £46,000 to be there for everyone who needs us. This simply wouldn’t be possible without the support from people like Jodie, and all their family and friends fundraising for us.”
If you would like to fundraise for the hospice please contact Peter Hall on 01702 220305 or phall@havenshospices.org.uk, or for more information about Little Havens visit havenshospices.org.uk.

POLICE are appealing for information following a stabbing outside a house party in South Ockendon.

The 19-year-old victim received a small stab wound to his neck following the incident in South Road.

Officers were called to the scene at about 2am on Saturday July 20th and were supported by the dog unit as they conducted a search of the area.

The victim, who is from the South Ockendon area, was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Grays CID on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

FOR THOSE OF us who have been attending similar seminars for nigh on thirty years, they are usually highly defensive or somewhat self-congratulatory affairs.

But last night’s (Tuesday) the Police and Crime Commissioner, Nick Alston held a meeting at Thurrock Council’s civic offices which gave the public a chance to grill Mr Alston and his team.

Mr Alston was flanked by Thurrock Council portfolio holder, cllr Angie Gaywood, chief inspector Ben Hodder and chief executive of Thurrock Council, Graham Farrant.

In front of a packed audience (mostly representatives of organisations and about five members of the public), Mr Alston and his team gave an honest assessment of state of crime in Thurrock.

Chief Inspector Hodder gave a frank admission that burglary detections were not what they should be but that they were working on it with a series of operations, especially in the Stanford and Corringham area.

He also told the audience that they had stopped over a thousand people as part of a concerted effort to fight crime.

A member of police watchdog, Independent Advisory Watchdog, Neil Woodbridge, expressed his concerns over the fifteen break-ins to Asian properties over recent months.

Former mayor, cllr Yash Gupta added that his own home had been broken into and added that Victim Support “had been no help at all.”

There were also concerns regarding an incident in Springfield Road in Grays last week. A resident told Mr Alston that an elderly resident was held against her will in her garage by a drunken teenager.

She said: “When the police arrived, she was informed that as the suspect was drunk, he was not accountable for her actions.”

Chief Inspector Hodder said he would look into it.

South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre expressed their concerns regarding the number of convicted sex offenders in Thurrock that evaded jail and were given cautions instead. In 2012-13 that number had risen to 73.

Reporting back, Det. Supt Euan Wilson gave a series of explanations regarding why that number was so high including cases where they parents and victim were “happy” with a caution being given.

Chair of Sericc, Sheila Coates MBE also highlighted the difference between the number of rapes reported to them as opposed to those reported to the police.

Essex Police have to date (6pm) arrested nine people during a day-long blitz against criminals in Essex, including six people on suspicion of burglary.

Operation Talon started at 8am today (Thursday, 25 July) and is set to continue until 3am tomorrow (Friday, 26 July).

More than 100 officers and staff have been working at 12 sites across the road network in Essex to target suspects involved in burglaries and other travelling criminals.

To date 506 vehicles have been checked by officers with 26 drivers having their vehicles seized at the roadside for insurance or licence offences, 98 seatbelt offences and 67 tickets for other offences. One knife was recovered at the roadside, believed to have been thrown away before the occupants were stop-checked.

The enforcement action has included the nine arrests:

*Four men, aged between 24-34 were arrested in Basildon on suspicion of burglary, arrested at Trafford House, Cherrydown East, Basildon.

*A 48 year old man from Clacton area was arrested in Colchester on suspicion of theft of tobacco from Cambridge

*A 42 year old man from South Norwood, London SE25 was arrested in Grays on suspicion of being a disqualified driver and obstructing police. His passenger, a woman, received a fixed penalty notice for allowing her car to be used by someone with no insurance to drive it.

*A 30 year old man from Brentwood area was arrested as he was wanted on suspicion of making off without payment for fuel when his car was stopped in the Grays area.

*A man aged 30 and a woman aged 31, from Southend were arrested in Southend on suspicion of burglary and car theft.

In addition to these arrests 26 drivers have had their vehicles seized by police at the roadside after they were unable to provide insurance details or were driving otherwise than in accordance with their driving licence.

Chief Superintendent Andy Prophet, who has been in charge of the operation, said: “We are very pleased with the success of the operation so far and are expecting the arrests to continue as we head into the evening.

“Operation Talon was set up to target burglars and other travelling criminals using the roads of Essex. Our message to them is this: ‘Your time is up. We will deny you the use of our roads and stop you travelling within Essex to commit crime’.

“This is just the first in a series of operations to target these criminals until they get this message that they are not wanted in Essex.”

He added that the force had established its checkpoints on the basis of crime pattern analysis, expert policing knowledge and advice from local Policing Commands.

Some of the sites have been moving during the day to increase the effectiveness of the operation in case suspects try to find alternative routes.

Officers and staff involved in the operation have included members of the operational policing command, local policing areas, serious crime directorate, criminal investigation department, special constabulary and police community support officers.

They have been using Automatic Number Plate Recognition equipment to target suspects, along with road checks and directed patrols, complemented by dedicated custody, intelligence, communications, logistics and investigative support.

A number of partner agencies have also been involved including the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency, HM Revenue & Customs, Department for Work & Pensions and the UK Border Agency.

Chief Superintendent Prophet said: “Our aim has been to cover all the bases so that if we pick up any suspects we can look at them for offences across a whole range of legislation.

“We have also deployed casualty reduction officers at three locations to offer advice to all motorists on staying safe.

“But this has not been about targeting law abiding motorists it has been aimed at taking career criminals off the roads and reducing the amount of burglary and other serious crime committed in Essex.”

THE BODY of a local man was found dead in a car in Grays.

Essex Ambulance Service were called at 6.30pm on Sunday evening after a report of a man in a seriously ill condition in a car in Dell Road, Grays.

On attendance, they found the dead body of a local man in his thirties.

Essex Police have reported that there are no suspicious circumstances.

A post-mortem will take place in due course and a report will be submitted to the coroner.

A CORRINGHAM teacher has been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling over £750 for playing music too loudly.

Michelle Ottley, a 42-year-old junior school teacher of Woodmanhurst Road, Corringham, pleaded guilty by post to breaching a noise abatement notice.

Magistrates at Basildon were told on Friday (26 July) that the notice had been served after Environmental Protection officers from Thurrock Council’s out of hours service heard loud amplified music playing at her address on 24 November last year,

The noise had been causing disturbance for neighbouring homes, and preventing neighbours from sleeping.

On 6 April this year, Ottley was witnessed by officers breaching the notice.

She wrote to the court apologising for her actions, and promised not to do it again. She was fined £140, with costs awarded against her of £600, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20.

POLICE are appealing for help in tracing two men after a white Apple iPad was stolen from PC World at the Lakeside Retail Park.

Alarm wires securing the tablet were cut just before 7.45pm on July 9.

Anyone who can identify the two men pictured should contact Pc Stacy King at Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an assault which left the victim with serious facial injuries.

The 52-year-old victim had been at Tilbury Dock Sports and Social Club, in Dock Road, to watch a live band play on the evening of Saturday July 20.

He was approached from behind by a man who assaulted him, and a scuffle occurred on the floor.

The victim, who is from the Tilbury area, suffered a fractured cheekbone and eye socket, to the left-hand side of his face.

The assault happened between 11.30pm and 11.50pm and detectives would like to speak with anyone who witnessed what happened.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Pc Adam Stallard, or his colleagues at Grays CID, on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A SOUTH OCKENDON teenager is in police custody today (Tuesday) after an allegation of an assault upon a football steward at Aveley last night.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place during the pre-season friendly between Aveley and AFC Hornchurch at Mill Field, Aveley.

The steward did not require hospital treatment.

The incident comes after concerns were raised at the end of last season at the behaviour of a number of younger fans who have started following the team.

The play-off fixture between Maldon versus Aveley was punctuated with foul, abusive and homophobic chanting by the young supporters.

YT understands that the club spoke to supporters after the game regarding the language.

A WOMAN who died after an incident in Orsett last month has been named as Joyce Lewis who was aged 80 and from the Grays area.

Mrs Lewis received serious injuries when she was in collision with a green Vauxhall Corsa in a car park at the Foxhound pub in High Road at about 1.45pm on Wednesday July 31. She was taken to Basildon Hospital but was transferred to the Royal London Hospital where she later died.

An inquest was opened and adjourned at Chelmsford on Wednesday, August 7.

Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the collision and still want to contact a man whose black VW Golf car was parked nearby and was involved in a slight impact from the Corsa.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about events leading to the collision should call the investigating officer Pc Lance Hutchin at the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or send an email to collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk

Mrs Lewis’s family have asked that they are not contacted in any way by members of the media.

BRITISH Transport Police (BTP) detectives are appealing for information after three 16-year-old boys were threatened with a knife to hand over money in Essex.

Investigators have released CCTV images of three men they would like to speak to in connection with the incident, which took place on Saturday, 27 July.

Detective Constable Jon Howlett, the investigating officer, said: “The three victims boarded a train at Leigh-on-Sea station around 12.30pm, heading towards Chafford Hundred station, where they had planned to go to Lakeside Shopping Centre.

“During the journey, three youths approached the victims and threatened to stab them if they didn’t hand over money.

“Fearing for their safety, one of the victims handed the suspect £20 from his pocket. As the train arrived into Chafford Hundred, the victims made their way towards Lakeside Shopping Centre but were followed by the three men.

“Once inside the complex, the youths approached the victims again and ordered them to withdraw money from a cash point. One of the victims then drew out £20 and handed in to the men, who then made off from the centre.”

Officers are conducting a number of enquiries to establish the identity of the men including viewing CCTV from the station, shopping complex and speaking any witnesses who may have been on board the train, or witnessed suspicious behaviour at Lakeside that day.

One of the men is believed to speak with a strong Irish accent.

DC Howlett added: “Threats of violence and carrying offensive weapons such as knifes is simply not tolerated by BTP. Luckily, it’s rare that people are faced with this type of threatening and fearful experience on trains, but, when it does occur, we do all we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“I’d urge anyone who has any information to come forward and assist officers in this investigation.”

Anyone with information can contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting background reference B11/LNA of 08/08/2013. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a robbery in Tilbury where a woman was punched.

The 46-year-old victim was walking along Adelaide Road, towards the junction with Hobart Road, at about 11.40pm on Sunday August 11 when she was approached by four men.

They attempted to engage her in conversation before snatching at her handbag.

There was a short struggle and one of the men punched the victim in the neck.

They then made off towards Adelaide Road with the handbag.

Detectives are looking for four white men aged in their late teens to early twenties, one of which had a mountain bike.

Investigating Officer, Dc Grant Welbourne, said: “The woman was shocked and traumatised by the attack but fortunately she was not seriously hurt.

“I am appealing for any witnesses to get in touch with any information they can give me.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dc Welbourne, or his colleagues at Grays CID, on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A WOMAN has been airlifted to hospital following a road traffic collision in Purfleet.

YT understands that the collision between a car and cyclist, occurred around 3.30pm.

The A1306 Arterial Road in Purfleet is closed at the A1090 Tank Hill Road junction, because of the accident.

An Essex police spokesman said: “We are at the scene of a serious road collision which is believed to involve a car and a cyclist.

“A woman has been taken to hospital by air and a police investigation is underway.”