ESSEX Police is are appealing for information after a man was robbed while walking close to a cemetery in Grays.

The victim, a 32-year-old man, reported that he was walking in High Street near to St Peter and St Paul Church between 10pm and 11pm on Friday 1 November when he was approached by three men.

The suspects then punched the man to the face and kicked on the floor.

He was knocked unconscious and later ground that his phone and cash had been stolen.

The victim sustained a broken eye socket, which required surgery.

The suspects have been described as being white and around 6ft tall.

Anyone with information is asked to call Grays CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/176238/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Man robbed near cemetery in Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.

PARENTS of children at a Thurrock primary school have praised members of staff who looked after their children caught up in the London Bridge terror attack on Friday, 29 November reports the Thurrock Nub News.

Pupils from the school enjoyed an outing to the Imperial War Museum and were on a coach crossing London Bridge when the attack happened.

Staff on the coach immediately realised what was happening and as the coach was caught up in the traffic, got the children to lie on the floor of the coach for protection and so that they didn’t see anything disturbing.

The coach was allowed to leave the scene and the children returned home where they were greeted by relieved parents.

Although the school has not released any official statement about the incident parents have spoken about the incident on social media and have praised staff.

A source close to the school said: “The school staff were brilliant, they made the children lie on the floor so they didn’t see anything.

“The children seem to be OK, they handled it all very well. Since the incident normal life has resumed!

“Obviously parents were concerned and relieved when the children got home.”

The post Bulphan Primary parents praise staff after school caught up in London Bridge attacks appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A WOMAN has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting two men on a late-night service out of London.

The 24-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of two counts of sexual assault and four counts of common assault, British Transport Police said.

The incidents are said to have happened on a c2c service from London Fenchurch Street to Pitsea, on Tuesday night.

Stanford-le-Hope resident John Mason, 49, filmed the incident and shared footage online.

He told a newspaper: “I was minding my own business yet this girl was upsetting everyone and at the end of the day, you have to take a stand. I suggested she get off at Barking, Purfleet and other stops.

“She smacked me in the face twice and grabbed a security guard. I’ve been there before and nothing happened so I walked away,” he wrote.

Mr Mason filmed the suspect appear to gesture angrily in front of a male passenger.

She shouts at him: “Is that what you think, you think you can decide when something in this planet matters, is that what you think?”

Other commuters attempt to calm the woman down.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said a female passenger was in custody after being arrested at Tilbury.

He said: “A 24-year-old woman is in custody this afternoon, after being arrested in connection to an incident on board a C2C train yesterday evening.

“The woman, who is from Bowers Gifford, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of sexual assault and four counts of common assault. She remains in custody as enquiries continue.”

The post Woman arrested at Tilbury station on suspicion of sexual assault appeared first on Your Thurrock.

Statement from Ambulance Service

“We were called at 12.17pm with reports that several people had been sprayed with an unknown substance in The Mall, Grays.

We sent the hazardous Area Response Team, rapid response vehicle and one ambulance.

“One ambulance remains at the scene where one person is being assessed”.

THE EMERGENCY services are at Grays Shopping Centre after a “chemical incident” had been reported.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We are currently at the scene of an incident in Grays.

“We were called shortly before 12.20pm today, Friday 6 December, to reports that several people were feeling unwell after a container, which we believe may have contained CS or pepper spray, was discharged inside The Mall, High Street.

“Our enquiries are ongoing and officers are searching the local area for several men who left the shopping centre shortly after the incident.

The post Grays Shopping Centre: Several people unwell after CS gas discharged appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police are appealing for witnesses after a cash stolen from a security box was stolen in Chafford Hundred yesterday, Friday 6 December.

A security guard from G4S was approached from behind while collecting cash from the Tesco Express in Fleming Road just after 10.40am. A five-figure sum of cash was stolen.

The driver, a man in his 50s, was shaken and received minor injuries.

The suspect was a white man who was wearing a balaclava and made off in a blue Fiat 500 which has since been recovered by officers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious and Organised Crime Team on 101 quoting incident 381 of 6 December, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800

The post Security guard robbed in Chafford Hundred appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A PURFLEET burglar who targeted three victims in three days has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Paul Davis was part of a gang who burgled the homes in May this year.

But he was caught with the help of CCTV and forensic evidence.

A cottage in Nine Ashes Road, Stondon Massey, was broken into on Monday 6 May. Although nothing was stolen, the burglars caused substantial damage by forced open doors.

CCTV footage showed a silver BMW 5 series arriving shortly before the burglary. Paul Davis was seen getting out of the car.

The following day, burglars broke into a bungalow in Old London Road, Wickford, and stole £600 cash, jewellery, passports and paperwork.

CCTV showed Paul Davis approaching the front door and ringing the doorbell. He was wearing the same tracksuit as during the burglary the previous day.

On Wednesday 8 May another burglary was reported in Mountnessing Road, Ingatestone. The thieves had stolen 220 Euros.

Davis, 28, of Saladin Drive, Purfleet, was arrested on Wednesday 3 July.

He was charged with all three counts of burglary, which he admitted when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday 8 October.

He was jailed on Tuesday 3 December.

DC Frankie Cole, of Brentwood CID, said: “The invasion of your home is very distressing and I hope this sentencing gives the victims some comfort that Davis has been brought to justice for his crimes.

“These were well-planned, organised burglaries and he was clearly not working alone.

“Anyone with information to help us identify his accomplices is asked to call us.”

Call Brentwood CID 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 Purfleet burglar who targeted three victims in three days jailed for four-and-a-half years. appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A GRAYS man is set to stand trial accused of both a sex attack and using “coercive and controlling behaviour”.

James Campbell, aged 26, of Richmond Road, Grays has been charged with the following.

On 01/12/2019 at South Ockendon 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

Between 01/09/2019 and 01/12/2019 at South Ockendon repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, namely stopping the victim from seeing friends and or family, making her look down in the street, preventing her from leaving the address and making her change her facebook passwords/logins so you could view these, as well as assaulting her on several occassions and damaging her personal property, towards a female, to whom, at the time of the behaviour, you were personally connected in that she was your partner, that behaviour having a serious effect on her and you knew or ought to have known that the behaviour would have a serious effect on her

A trial date of January 2nd, 2020 at Basildon Crown Court has been set.

Campbell has pleaded not guilty.

The post Grays man set to stand trial over “coercive and controlling behaviour” appeared first on Your Thurrock.

TEAM work between Thurrock Council’s environmental enforcement team and Essex Police has led to the discovery of a suspected cannabis cultivation site.

On Friday, 6 December, a member of the council’s enforcement team was investigating a suspected fly-tipping incident near the car wash in Princes Margaret Road, East Tilbury, when he noticed suspicious activity. After calling Essex Police, their officers conducted a search and found a number of plants believed to be cannabis.

Four people have been arrested on suspicion of production of a controlled drug and have been bailed pending further investigation.

To report a crime, call Essex Police on 999 in an emergency, or 101. Residents can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Thurrock Council and Essex Police uncover cannabis factory in East Tilbury appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A GRAYS man is set to stand trial over a number of harassment charges.

David Steingold, aged 45, of London Road, Grays has been charged with the following.

On 15/05/2019 at Grays, 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.

Between 21/09/2019 and 24/09/2019 at Grays caused a male to fear that violence would be used against him by your course of conduct which you knew or ought to have known would cause fear of violence to a male on each occasion in that he attended the complainant’s workplace demanding £500 or he would break the shop window, that he returned on several occasions to the shop and demanding money, making threats and to do it his way or face the consequences, making cut throat motions towards the complainant, causing damage to a window at the victim’s workplace, and was aggressive and swearing and brandishing a bottle of vodka.

Steingold has been remanded on conditional bail.

He is due to return to Basildon Crown Court on January 2nd, 2020.

The post Grays man set to stand trial over harassment charge appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police would like to talk to these people about an incident in Grays where a man had a substance sprayed at him.

A spokesperson said: “We were called shortly before 12.20pm on Friday 6 December to reports that five people were feeling unwell after a container, which we believe may have contained CS or pepper spray, was discharged inside The Mall, High Street.

“We are now treating this as a targeted attacked after a man was seen on CCTV spraying the substance towards one victim.

“The victim and suspect continue to remain unidentified and we are making enquiries to locate them.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Grays CID on 101 quoting incident 499 of 06/12.

“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111”.

The post Police release CCTV of men involved in Grays Shopping centre chemical incident appeared first on Your Thurrock.

Do you recognise these men?

ESSEX Police would like to talk to them after they received reports that a man was assaulted inside The Oak pub, in Lodge Lane, Grays, between 9pm and 10.30pm on Thursday 28 November.

The victim, who is aged in his 30s, was attacked within the toilets of the pub and was knocked unconscious.

He was taken to hospital with a broken jaw and arm.

Anyone with information is asked to call Grays CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/189795/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Two men sought after serious assault in The Oak pub, Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A CANNABIS dealer caught with more than £9,000 in cash has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Basildon Crown Court heard how officers were patrolling in Faymore Gardens, South Ockendon on Tuesday 29 October this year when they became suspicious of a Ford Fiesta.

The car was stopped and officers could smell a strong aroma of the Class B drug cannabis. They searched the driver, 20-year-old Joseph Ituah and the vehicle and found more than £9,000 in the driver’s side footwell.

Inside the boot of the vehicle officers also found a large bag containing hydroponic lamps and fans commonly used to grow the Class B drug.

Officers also seized mobile phones containing evidence of Ituah’s involvement in the supply of cannabis. A later search of his home in Hainault Road, Romford found the remnants of cannabis all over one of the rooms.

Ituah was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and acquiring criminal property.

He pleaded guilty to the charges at Basildon Crown Court and was jailed for eight months.

A 17-year-old boy from Romford, also arrested at the time and who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug. He was made the subject of a youth rehabilitation order and ordered to take part in a substance misuse programme.

Following the sentencing investigating officer PC Emma Ridings of the West Operation Raptor team said: “It was clear, both from the money found in Ituah’s vehicle and evidence found on his phone, that he was heavily involved in the supply of the Class B drug cannabis.

“The sale and supply of all drugs involves violence, exploitation and criminality which is why every day Operation Raptor are out on the streets of Essex targeting, arresting and locking up those involve in these types of offences.

“But we can’t do this alone and we need you, our communities, to tell us who is dealing what and where so we can continue to arrest those intent on selling harmful drugs on our streets.”

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ituah was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 2 December.

The post Cannabis dealer caught in South Ockendon appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A MAN from Grays has been charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration.

Olawale Hassan, 33, of Falcon Avenue will appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Monday 3 February.

Hassan, who also performs under the name Goldie 1, was arrested in connection with alleged offences in the Southend area in February 2017.

This matter is being investigated by officers at the Southend’s Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team who can be contacted on 101.

The post Grays man charged with three counts of rape appeared first on Your Thurrock.

DO you know where Carlito Hall is?

Essex Police would like to talk to him about an attempted robbery and possession of a firearm.

Hall, 20, is 5ft 7in tall and is from Tilbury.

He also has links to the Walthamstow area.

Members of the public are encouraged not to approach him and please call us with the information.

Anyone with information is asked to call Grays CID on 101 or visit www.essex.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Police want to trace Carlito Hall over attempted robbery and possession of firearm. appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A CORRINGHAM man is set to stand trial over an allegation of a sexual offence.

Wayne Bronze, aged 57, of Elmstead Close, Corringham has been charged with the following.

On 26/01/2016 at Long Road Surgery, 409 Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex 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

Bronze will next appear at Basildon Crown Court on January 2nd, 2020

He has pleaded not guilty.

The post Corringham man set to stand trial over sex assault in GP surgery appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A PURFLEET woman is set to stand trial in the new year accused of an offence against the Proceeds of Crime Act that involved over a quarter of a million pounds.

Oluwabunmi Tejuoso, aged 42, of Church Hollow, Purfleet has been charged with the following.

Between 01/11/2016 and 10/04/2017 at Purfleet entered into an arrangement which you knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property, namely £282,745.24, by or on behalf of another person.

Tejuoso’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday January 3rd, 2020 at Basildon Crown Court.

She has pleaded not guilty.

Court has directed trial by jury.

The post Purfleet woman set to stand trial over £282,000 worth of criminal property appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A PAIR of thieves, who stole more than £25,000 of goods in a spree of shop burglaries, including thefts in Great Cornard and Hadleigh, have been jailed for a total of eight years.

Jamie Channon, 41, of Chadfields, Tilbury, and Tony Moore, 37, of Sycamore Close, Tilbury, were each given four-year prison sentences at Ipswich Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

The charges related to six instances of theft or attempted break-ins at convenience stores and a filling station shop in Suffolk and Norfolk, which took place between September 6 and October 14.

The businesses targeted included the Co-op in Canhams Road, Great Cornard, where the the two men broke into a cigarette kiosk and made off with a quantity of tobacco products on September 13.

Channon and Moore also broke into the Co-op in High Street, Hadleigh, during the six-week spree, which collectively resulted in more than £25,000 of cigarettes and tobacco being stolen.

Their crimes eventually caught up with them, after they were traced by police following their final burglary in Leiston on October 14, when they set off a burglar alarm and were recorded by CCTV cameras leaving the scene in a stolen Ford Mondeo.

Officers located the vehicle in the Stonhams as it turned on to the A140 from the A1120 and a pursuit ensued, with the Mondeo reaching speeds of 120mph in a 50mph zone.

At the junction with the A14 at Beacon Hill, the suspect went the wrong way around the roundabout, then entered the eastbound carriageway, travelling in the wrong direction, before stopping in Creeting St Mary, where the pair were seen running away from the car.

A police dog unit later followed a scent along a track, and discovered a balaclava and jacket, but the suspects were not located.

The Mondeo was seized and two duvet covers filled with cigarettes and tobacco were found in the car, along with a set of tools, razors, gaffer tape and a number of stolen vehicle licence plates.

Channon’s DNA was detected on the balaclava, while Moore’s DNA was on one of the duvets.

Channon was arrested in Tilbury on November 5, and charged the following day.

Moore was detained in Grays on November 28, and he was also charged the following day.

Acting Detective Inspector Craig Powell, of the serious crime disruption team at Suffolk Police, said: “Jamie Channon and Tony Moore caused the affected businesses significant financial harm during their mini crime-wave, but their crimes eventually caught-up with them.

“Suffolk is not a soft touch and we will pursue and prosecute anyone who thinks they can target our retailers in this way, or indeed any of our businesses.

“We have a number of tools at our disposal to catch offenders, such as Channon and Moore, whether it is CCTV, forensic evidence or automatic number plate recognition.

“Criminals should be in no doubt that we will make full use of them to ensure successful convictions.”

The post Tilbury pair jailed after burglary spree in Suffolk appeared first on Your Thurrock.

IF you’re out this evening, please could you keep an eye out for Kevin Stone, who has been reported missing from his home in South Ockendon.

Essex Police are currently carrying out searches to find the 53-year-old, who was last seen shortly before 7.15pm today, Sunday 22 December.

He is driving a black Ford Fiesta with a 56 registration plate.

He was last seen wearing grey Nike tracksuit bottoms, a blue Nike sweatshirt and Ugg slippers. He also wears glasses.

Kevin is known to visit Belhus Woods and Rainham Marshes.

The police and his family are concerned for his welfare, so if you see him, please call us on 101.

The post Appeal after South Ockendon man goes missing appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police are looking for witnesses who can help piece together the circumstances around a collision in which a man suffered a head injury.

The 26-year-old cyclist was involved in a collision with a silver Toyota Auris at about 9.55pm on Wednesday 18 December.

It happened in the Lakeside Retail Park car park service road, near the entrance to the Travelodge hotel.

The cyclist was taken to hospital with a head injury and has since been discharged.

The driver is helping with our enquiries.

If you were in the area at the time and saw what happened, please call PC Jason Mowbrey in the Chigwell Road Policing Unit on 101, quoting incident number 1199 of Wednesday 18 December

The post Cyclist suffers head injury after collision at Lakeside appeared first on Your Thurrock.

MORE than 120 people have been arrested on suspicion of drug driving so far this month.

Officers made 126 drug driving arrests in the first 23 days of December, compared to 119 drink driving arrests and 44 failing to provide a specimen arrests.

It takes the total in 2019 to 1,796.

Adam Pipe, Head of Roads Policing, said: “My officers continue to work to keep people safe on our roads.

“What these arrest numbers emphasise is that drug drivers in Essex are more likely to be arrested than ever before.

“It seems that people still don’t realise that drugs stick around in your system and just because you don’t feel stone it doesn’t mean you’re not over the drug driving limit.

“And the consequences for drug driving are really serious. You could lose your licence, your job, home or even kill yourself or someone else.

“I need the public’s help in sharing this message and our ‘Is the high worth the low?’ anti-drug driving campaign.”

The post More than 120 arrests for drug-driving so far in December appeared first on Your Thurrock.