A KNIFE-wielding robber who stole from two bookmakers and a friend he was staying with in Wisbech has been jailed.
John Penhaligon, 49, travelled from his home in Chadwell St Mary to stay with a friend in Wisbech for five days from 8 September.
On 10 September he went to a branch of Betfred, in High Street, Wisbech, armed with a knife. He demanded money from the till and warned staff not to press any panic alarms. A terrified employee handed him about £200 in cash and he calmly walked out of the shop.
The following day Penhaligon went to another branch of Betfred with another man, this time in Horsefair, Wisbech.
He produced a knife, waved it through the gap underneath a Covid-19 protective screen and demanded money from the till.
The employee showed him there was no money in the till, so he demanded she opened the second machine which contained a number of £5 notes.
Fearing for her safety the employee handed Penhaligon about £85 in cash. As she did so she asked him why he was robbing the shop, to which he replied “because I am skint mate.”
On the morning of 13 September Penhaligon left his friend’s home and returned to his home in River View, Chadwell St Mary. However, before he left he stole his host’s Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, £230 in cash and a pair of blue Adidas trainers.
When the victim realised what had happened he contacted police about the theft and raised suspicions about Penhaligon’s activity while he was staying in Wisbech.
Penhaligon was arrested and in interview denied committing the robberies. He also denied stealing from the friend and said he had not seen him “for years.”
However, he later went on to admit two counts of robbery, two of possession of a knife in a public place and one of theft.
On Friday (6 November) at Peterborough Crown Court he was jailed for five years.
DC Natalie Hines said: “Penhaligon clearly thought nothing of the trauma he was inflicting on the people he threatened and callously took advantage of someone who was supposed to be his friend.
“Being short of money is absolutely no excuse for behaviour like this and I am pleased that justice has been done.”
AN alleged smuggler has described the moment a lorry driver told him he had “dead bodies in the trailer”, a court heard.
Gheorghe Nica, 43, is accused of the manslaughter of the Vietnamese nationals who suffocated as they were transported from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet reports the Mirror.
The bodies were discovered in the lorry in the early hours of 23 October 2019
The British Romanian has admitted helping in two earlier successful people-smuggling trips. He denied the charges made against him in relation to the tragedy on October 23 last year.
Giving evidence in his Old Bailey trial, mechanic Nica described the moment he realised things had gone “very, very bad”.
He told jurors he had agreed for Maurice Robinson to park his lorry at a yard in Orsett, at 1am on October 23, at a meeting the evening before with his friend Marius Draghici.
Nica said he assumed it was to do with an “expensive” load of cigarettes or alcohol.
Early the next day, Robinson picked up a trailer-load of migrants from Purfleet port and stopped in Eastern Avenue, having been instructed by haulier boss Ronan Hughes to “give them air quickly”, the court heard.
At 1.13am, Robinson opened the trailer door, took a step back and stood for 90 seconds before closing the door and getting back into the cab.
Five minutes after Robinson made the grim discovery, Nica phoned him.
Nica told jurors: “Draghici rang me, asked what’s going on with Mo? Ring him, find out if he’s coming or not.
I called Robinson and I say ‘Well. What’s going on? Are you coming or not?’
“And he just said ‘I don’t know, I don’t know’.
“I said ‘Listen are you ok there?’ And I thought in my mind he might be stopped by police or customs.”
Asked if Robinson spoke much during that call, Nica said: “Not really. I feel like something was not right with him.”
The defendant went on: “He did call me back after 10 minutes and again I answered the call.
“I said ‘What’s going on?’ and he said ‘I have a problem here’.
“I said ‘Are you still coming?’
“(He said) ‘I don’t know. I have a problem here – dead bodies in the trailer.
Aftab Jafferjee QC, defending, asked: “What was your reaction to that?”
Nica replied: “I said ‘Listen, what do you mean dead bodies?
“He said ‘Yeah, there are too many’.
“I said ‘Ring the ambulance, ring the police, do not move at all’.
Asked if Robinson had indicated how many bodies there were, Nica said: “No, probably he did not even know. He said ‘Too many’.”
On what he did next, Nica said: “I was sitting in the car and it was still very, very bad.
“I didn’t know what was going on. I knew it was going to be very, very bad news.”
Nica said he drove to his former home in Basildon to see if British passports he was waiting for had arrived.
The next day, he travelled to Romania and did not use his mobile phone again.
Asked why he left the country, divorced father-of-three Nica said: “First of all I was scared about this situation.
“I knew it’s going to be a big, big investigation and I just go home to see my family, my kids again.”
Mr Jafferjee said: “What was it you were worried about?”
The defendant replied: “First thing on the 18th (October) I was involved, and second because the phone calls. I was the person who rang Robinson.”
Prosecuting Bill Emlyn Jones said Nica’s version of events was “ridiculous”.
He said: “You said ‘Everyone trying to escape from this situation is just telling stories’.
“You have here in one sentence exactly described your own situation.
“You are charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, on any view that’s a situation you find yourself in. Because you are a people smuggler and the people you were smuggling were killed weren’t they?”
Nica replied: “I never smuggled them. I never arranged anything for them to arrive.”
Mr Emlyn Jones said: “You have dreamt up a complicated story. I’m going to suggest to you it’s a ridiculous story, Mr Nica.”
The defendant said he had smuggled one Albanian man and arranged drivers to pick migrants up on October 11 and 18 last year.
The prosecutor said: “You realised when you went through the case you had no way out of the 11th and 18th but you just cannot bring yourself to admit the manslaughter.”
Nica replied: “It’s not about prison. I’m not responsible for the people who died. I never ordered them, I never brought them.”
Nica, from Basildon in Essex, has denied 39 counts of manslaughter along with lorry driver Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Co Down, who dropped off the trailer containing the victims at Zeebrugge on the afternoon of October 22.
ESSEX Police is supporting Restorative Justice Week and will be highlighting our Essex Restorative and Mediation Service that supports victims of crime in Essex.
The Essex Restorative and Mediation Service works with people who have been involved in conflict, including criminal offences and we use restorative processes to communicate between people who have been harmed, and have caused harm, to allow them to work towards positive outcomes in a safe environment. Our service is impartial and will work to achieve a positive way forward for everyone involved.
As well as being very experienced with working with criminal behaviour, we also work with anti-social behaviour and even arrange meetings involving entire communities where issues are affecting them.
This week, we will be focusing on what restorative justice is and will introduce some of our team who work with victims and offenders in Essex. Our staff oversee the running of the Essex Restorative and Mediation Service, including supporting and recruiting our facilitators, liaising with service users and other organisations, arranging mediation / RJ conferences and delivering training. They are all experienced, accredited RJ and mediation practitioners.
The team consists of a service delivery manager, two RJ co-ordinators, an RJ administrator, and a support staff member. We also have 42 Restorative and Mediation Service facilitators who volunteer their time to support victims of crime in Essex.
We will be sharing case studies from people who have used our restorative justice services to give an insight into the process and how it can be used alongside the criminal justice system.
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “This week, we’re highlighting the restorative justice services available to Essex residents. “Restorative Justice can be effective in showing the responsible person the real impact of their actions by putting a face to their crime. It also gives the victim and their families the chance to tell the offender how they feel about what has happened, ask for an apology and get answers to their questions.
“It can be used alongside the criminal justice system and can be really powerful for both victims and perpetrators.”
Nikki Essex, Restorative and Mediation Service Manager said: “This week is a national opportunity to reflect on the progress made in restorative justice in the last year and to look forward to what’s coming up.
“Restorative justice is a process which brings offenders and victims into some form of communication, allowing victims to ask question, discuss the impact of the crime and get some form of closure. It also allows offenders to understand the harm that’s been caused and make amends, which has been proven to reduce re-offending.
“Despite lock down the service has been busy, managing 223 referrals since January, of which 48 have resulted in a final positive outcome so far.
“One of the focuses for the week is domestic abuse and this is a great opportunity to tie in RJ and domestic abuse and how beneficial it can be to give victims a voice. We know from our colleagues that nationally since lockdown, RJ cases for DA have increased by 150% across the UK.”
A LORRY driver accused over the deaths of 39 migrants has told a court he was watching Netflix as people were allegedly loaded into his trailer.
Eamonn Harrison dropped off a trailer containing Vietnamese migrants at a Belgian port and they were found dead the next day in Essex, jurors heard.
Mr Harrison told the court he did not know there were people in the trailer.
The 23-year-old, of Newry, County Down, denies manslaughter and being involved in a wider people-smuggling operation.
The court had previously been told the 39 victims, aged 15 to 44, suffocated in the sealed trailer en route from Zeebrugge to Purfleet in Essex.
Irish haulier boss Ronan Hughes, 41, and lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 26, have previously admitted manslaughter.
Giving evidence in an Old Bailey trial Mr Harrison told jurors he had agreed to deal with “stolen goods” as he owed Mr Hughes over a drink-drive accident.
ESSEX Police are looking for 14 year-old Scissani Stephenson-Codnel who’s gone missing from Chafford Hundred.
Scissani was last seen at around 12.30pm on Sunday 15 November in the Norfolk Place area.
He’s described as black, 5ft 8ins tall with shoulder-length braided hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket, a black hat, jogging bottoms with a red, white, and black patch design, and black trainers.
He has links to the Southwark and Sutton areas of south London.
We’re worried about him and need to find him to make sure he’s ok.
If you’ve seen him or have any information about where he is please call us on 101 or 999 in the case of an emergency.
HOW many people dying on the roads in Essex every year do you think is acceptable? …….. 5? 20? 42? (42 is the actual number of people that died on our roads last year).
What if some of them were your family, your friends, neighbours, colleagues?
When you think of it like this, isn’t one person killed one too many?
Human beings make mistakes, but is it right that, sometimes, even a small mistake means that someone will not be going home?
Today, the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) is launching Vision Zero.
Vision Zero is their ambition to have ZERO road deaths and serious injuries on roads in the Essex, Southend and Thurrock council areas by 2040.
Councillor Lesley Wagland, Chairman of the SERP Governance Board said:
“I completely support Vision Zero, and am urging all leaders of councils, emergency services and businesses, together with the people of Essex, to prevent these unacceptable and avoidable tragedies.
“As our roads get ever busier, we must not lose sight of what really matters – people’s safety. “I know all our partners are totally committed to achieving
Vision Zero, but it will only succeed if everyone who uses the roads in Essex is prepared to share this vision and work with us to achieve it.”
We are looking forward to working with anyone and everyone who shares our vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on Essex roads.
If you’d like to know more or want to contribute please contact us at saferessexroads
We all recognise the enormity of this challenge.
To get to zero by 2040, we need to halve the current number of deaths and serious injuries by 2030 which we know will involve many changes and will require the commitment of all communities and organisations, as well as each individual road user.
We feel that the passion behind Vision Zero is captured by the impact of this film from The Transport Accident Commission Victoria (Australia) Towards Zero
A LORRY driver accused of transporting 39 migrants to their deaths has told jurors he was “naive and gullible”.
Eamonn Harrison, 23, allegedly successfully dropped off two loads of people at Zeebrugge in Belgium before the Vietnamese nationals died in his trailer en route to Purfleet on October 22 last year.
The bodies were discovered in the lorry in the early hours of 23 October 2019
Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Harrison denied people smuggling, saying he only agreed to load stolen lorry parts for his boss Ronan Hughes because he owed him after drunkenly writing off one of his trucks.
He has claimed that a Romanian he knew as Alex, aka Petrisor Zgarcea, was Hughes’ “man on the continent” and he went for a walk when people were loaded on his trailer without his knowledge on two occasions.
On October 18, a delivery of macaroons and Bakewell tarts, which were transported in the same trailer as people, were rejected due to human contamination.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told Harrison: “You have dreamt up stolen lorry parts because on this night a load of illegal immigrants were smuggled in your trailer.”
Harrison replied that it was “without my knowledge”.
The prosecutor said: “That load when it got to the UK was rejected because of human contamination.”
He asked what Harrison had talked about in a seven minute and 36 second call with Hughes on October 18.
Harrison said: “I cannot remember exactly. I know he did tell me the load had been rejected and the trailer was coming back to me.”
Mr Emlyn Jones went on: “You can imagine what was on his mind at that time.
“What you have got to talk about is the fact the load he has spent all morning sorting out… was all trodden down and all the biscuits were broken and crushed.
“He does not know the load has been rejected because the load hasn’t got to Sittingbourne.
“I suggest here are two people engaged in people smuggling talking about their people smuggling.”
The defendant denied it, telling jurors: “I was naive and gullible.
“I was to work off the debt with reduction in wage. It would have taken me a year. I did not know I was involved in people smuggling.”
Turning to the fatal trip on October 22, Mr Emlyn Jones asserted: “It was a double load of 39 migrants and you have loaded them in two stages.”
The defendant denied it.
Jurors were shown video footage of Harrison walking around the pick-up point near Bierne in northern France that morning.
Mr Emlyn Jones suggested that Harrison had concocted a lie, about being told to go for a walk while migrants were being loaded, from viewing the video.
The prosecutor said: “You have built a lie.
“Your excuse for not knowing what’s happening on the 10th and 17th was you were told to take a walk – a master stroke of subterfuge.
“Hughes tells you to take a walk, you can turn a blind eye to what’s going on in your trailer. It’s based on this clip. You fake a defence around that evidence.”
Harrison has told jurors he was in his cab watching Power on Netflix with his curtains drawn when migrants jumped aboard his trailer on October 22.
Mr Emlyn Jones suggested that his walking defence did not work on that occasion because of the evidence of an eyewitness.
The defendant has told the court he initially lied about what happened out of “fear” but decided to tell the truth later.
On Harrison’s movements at the pick-up point, Mr Emlyn Jones said: “You knew perfectly well what you were doing there.
“You’ve already got some of the migrants on board and now you are waiting for the rest to assemble. That’s the delay.
“You have to come back. You have to turn around you have to wait and all because there are more migrants to come on board.
Harrison said: “That’s not the case.”
The prosecutor suggested that amid the “palava” of loading all 39 migrants, a ladder gets forgotten.
Referring to the evidence of a migrant from an earlier run, Mr Emlyn Jones asked: “Did you open the doors give them a gulp of air, a bag to urinate in? Did you bang on the side and give them the signal to huddle in the middle. How did the lorry get back up?”
He denied it, saying he did not know how the ladder moved back.
Concluding his cross-examination, the prosecutor said: “Mr Harrison, those 39 migrants were in your trailer when you dropped them off at Zeebrugge. I am going to suggest you knew full well all along and it’s little wonder if you feel devastated for their families.
“Your priority throughout these proceedings.. is not to tell the truth for them and their families. Your primary concern is yourself.”
The defendant denied it, saying: “I did not know they were there but then at the end of the day they were still in that trailer.
“I was scared. I still am.”
Harrison, of Co Down, Northern Ireland, has denied the manslaughter of 39 migrants and being involved in a wider people-smuggling operation.
Jurors have heard that Hughes, 41, of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, has admitted his involvement in the tragedy.
A TEENAGER was attacked and robbed by two people near to a busy train station.
The 15-year-old was assaulted near to Chafford Hundred Train Station by two who were armed with a knife on Thursday night.
A large police presence was seen at Grays Train Station including British Transport Police Operations Support Unit and the British Transport Police Dog Unit.
Officers later said that two people have been arrested.
Keeping people safer by breaking the cycle of domestic abuse
“EVERYONE deserves to live a life free of domestic abuse.” – That’s the message from the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board
(SETDAB) as it aims to raise awareness of how people can get help and change their behaviours.
Latest Essex Police figures reveal that even more victims of domestic abuse are being protected: * Repeat incidents are DOWN by 765 in the last year * Arrests are UP by more than 2,000 – taking more suspects into custody so they’re prevented from causing more harm * More than 250 plus Domestic Violence Protection Notices issued this year – keeping more people safe * 431 MORE cases have been solved
The organisations that makeup SETDAB are committed to ensuring that more victims of domestic abuse are protected and get the help they need.
This week, to coincide with International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, the partners will be highlighting different elements of their work and priorities on social media.
They will promote help and support for victims, show ways that perpetrators can help to change their behaviour, look at stalking, highlight how domestic abuse affects young people and children and educate people on how to spot the signs of domestic abuse.
Breaking the cycle of domestic abuse is a key priority in the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex’s Police and Crime Plan. Deputy PFCC Jane Gardner chairs SETDAB and says now more than ever, when people are spending more time at home and may be at risk of greater harm, people need to be made aware of what can go on.
Jane said: “This week gives us an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the different types of domestic abuse, look at how it affects people and signpost where people can go for help and support. “Only by working with the representatives from agencies and organisations in partnership can we go a significant way to realise Southend, Essex and Thurrock’s vision of a County where everyone lives a life free from domestic abuse.” Chief Superintendent Andy Mariner said: “In the last year we’ve seen some real success in our work tackling domestic abuse, we’ve made 2,000 more arrests, incidents involving repeat victims are down and we’ve issued even more Domestic Violence Protection Notices. “All of this is good news and means we are making good strides to keep people safe and catch domestic abuse perpetrators, but we are not complacent, one victim is one victim too many. “Tackling domestic abuse is a matter for all of us – whether you are a police officer who can protect a victim and put an offender behind bars, whether you work in housing and can help someone suffering move away and start afresh, whether you work in education and can support a child who has seen abuse in the home – we all have a role to play. “During the restrictions we know that some people suffering at the hands of an abusive partner may have felt isolated, particularly not being able to see friends and family. “But we need people suffering to know that the help continues to be available, the restrictions haven’t changed anything, we will protect victims, we will remove you from dangerous and violent situations and we will all come together to give you the support you need. “There is help available and this campaign aims to remind people that we are all here to support you and tackling domestic abuse continues to be a priority for all of the partner organisations who make up SETDAB.” Following on from the campaign 250,000 leaflets will be distributed into 360 supermarkets across Essex, Southend and Thurrock which have been produced by Essex Police. The leaflet will contain useful information on where people can get help, advice and support. To find out more about the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board go to www.setdab.org
THREE £5,000 rewards are being offered for help to find three men wanted over a fatal shooting near Harlow.
Robert Powell, 50, was shot multiple times from a car on Water Lane in Roydon on 13 June and died in hospital the following day.
Three men, Nana Oppong, Temitope Adeyinka and Israar Shah, are wanted in connection with his death.
Who are the men?
Nana Oppong is 5ft 6ins tall and has a proportionate build. He is also known as ‘Enz’. He has links to several areas in East London Temitope Adeyinka is 5ft 8ins tall and has a medium build. He is also called ‘Limo’. He has links to East London, including Bow Israar Shah is 6ft 1ins tall and has a slim build. He also goes by the name ‘Slick’. He has links with East London and Romford. The charity Crimestoppers says it’s possible they have left the country.
“This is a shocking incident that should never happen”, Philip Breckon, from the charity Crimestoppers, said.
“Our charity believes in safe streets and safe communities and we hope that these rewards and our appeal will help to bring about justice.
“We are appealing to anybody with any information on the whereabouts of Nana Oppong, Temitope Adeyinka and Israar Shah to do the right thing and to tell our charity what you know, 100% anonymously. What you tell us can make all the difference in keeping others safe from harm and no information is too insignificant to tell us.
“You can speak to us anonymously by calling our UK Contact Centre which is open 24/7 on freephone number 0800 555 111 or you can use our simple and secure anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”
TWO Essex Police officers have been dismissed without notice following a fast-track misconduct hearing which found they had breached a number of the standards of professional behaviour.
The hearing took place yesterday, Tuesday 24 November, at Chelmsford City Council offices and was chaired by Chief Constable BJ Harrington.
Sergeant Matthew Parker and PC Robert Fraser were found to have committed gross misconduct and breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, discreditable conduct and challenging and reporting improper behaviour.
The hearing heard how the officers, who both worked in Essex Police’s Resolution Centre at the force’s Chelmsford headquarters, were part of a WhatsApp group where discriminatory and derogatory images and memes were shared.
The group was discovered in May and the officers were suspended from their duties at Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford.
Chief Constable Harrington said: “I expect the utmost professionalism from all officers and staff at Essex Police and that extends to their conduct on messaging and social media platforms, whether on or off duty.
“The public rightly expects the highest standards of officers and staff who are entrusted to keep them safe. No member of the police service should discriminate against any part of society.
“The behaviour shown by these officers undermines the hard-earned trust of the communities of Essex. It fell far short of my expectations and is out of step with the high standards of diversity, equality and inclusion, all of which are at the heart of what Essex Police stands for. It damages the reputation of the majority of those working within Essex Police who value difference in all people and provide a high-quality service to the people of Essex.”
THE FIRST group of cases in relation to breaching Covid-19 regulations have come in front of the courts in Essex.
The cases go back to April and May, 2020.
Among them are a number of Thurrock residents.
John Bruce, aged 32, of Gainsborough Avenue, Tilbury
William Bruce, aged 33, of Gainsborough Avenue, Tilbury
On 05/05/2020 at Tilbury contravened restriction of movement during emergency period, without reasonable excuse. Contrary to regulations 6 and 9(1)(b) & (4) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
On 05/05/2020 at 1153 in Tilbury suspect was stopped walking along with two trolleys full of scrap metal.
Both Bruce’s were fined £220.00
==========
Brian Fayre, aged 54, of Broadway, Grays
On 04/05/2020 at Grays contravene a direction or fail to comply with instruction – Coronavirus.
On 04/05/2020 at 18:45 in Grays having been found in a public place and taken home, the defendant failed to comply with an instruction to stay indoors and was found outside again a short time later.
Contrary to regulation 9(3) & (4) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
Fayre was fined £220.00
===================
Karol Konieczny, aged 23, of Argent Street, Grays
On 29/04/2020 at Thurrock contravene requirement as to restriction of movement during emergency period – Coronavirus, without reasonable excuse.
Contrary to regulations 6 and 9(1)(b) & (4) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
On 29/04/2020 at 1300 in Thurrock suspect smoking cannabis two streets from home address.
Fined £85.00
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Dean Lucey, aged 32, of Cornwell Crescent, Stanford-le-Hope
On 03/05/2020 at Stanford le Hope in the county of Essex Contravene requirement to not participate in a gathering in public of more than two people – Coronavirus
Contrary to regulations 7 and 9(1)(a) and (4) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
On 03/05/2020 at 2100 in Stanford le Hope in the county of Essex defendant was found in a quarry area in a group of at least six people who were all involved in driving vehicles at the location.
Fined: £85.00
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Justas Truksinas, aged 22, of Painswick Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope
On 08/04/2020 at Chelmsford contravene requirement to not participate in a gathering in public of more than two people – Coronavirus Contrary to regulations 7 and 9(1)(a) and (4) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
On 08/04/2020 at 2345 in Chelmsford in the county of Essex vehicle stopped and driver found to be from out of area and just chilling with his friend.
Fined £92.00
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Mark Wild, aged 31, of St Margaret’s Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope
On 03/05/2020 at Stanford le hope, without reasonable excuse, during the emergency period, other than as permitted by the Regulations, participated in a gathering in a public place of more than two people.
Wild was found in a quarry are in a group of at least six people who were all involved in driving 4 x 4 vehicles at the location, without reasonable excuse.
A MAN who dragged an officer along the ground with his car and punched another in the head has been jailed for four years and three months.
Two officers were on patrol when carried out a routine check on a Vauxhall Corsa parked on a grass verge in Merlin Close, Chafford Hundred, on 14 January this year.
They spoke to the driver, Dayne Cooper, and found the car had no insurance or registered keeper.
They also noticed two half snooker cues, a golf club and remnants of cannabis in the back and asked him to step out of the car so they could carry out a search.
As one of the officers opened the driver’s door, Cooper started driving off, dragging him along the ground with one hand on the door handle.
He threatened to kill him and ran over his foot as the car mounted the kerb onto a grass area.
The officer attempted to grab the steering wheel and keys, and the car swerved.
The second officer tried to grab her colleague to pull him back, but the car kept moving before coming to a stop.
Cooper was pulled out of the car but struggled with the male officer.
The female officer pleaded with him to calm down but he punched her in the head, and she fell to the ground. She sprayed him with CS spray but he made off and she gave chase.
Cooper attempted to get into a member of the public’s car, then tried to climb a gate. But she grabbed him and other officers helped her detain him.
He admitted actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, dangerous driving, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on 16 November.
The 27-year-old, of Fenton Road, Chafford Hundred, was jailed on 25 November and banned from driving for four years and eight months.
He was also ordered to pay £600 compensation and £200 costs.
Investigating officer PC Owen Clements, of Grays CID, said: “This was a horrific attack on colleagues who were just trying to do their job.
“Thankfully they were not seriously harmed but there could easily have been a very different outcome if that car had not stopped.”
A NINE-year-old boy has been taken to hospital with injuries after he was attacked by a dog in Langdon.
Police were called on Friday 27 November with reports that the boy had been walking his dog with his family at Langdon Hills recreation ground shortly before 7.30pm, when another dog approached them.
The dog was reported to have acted aggressively towards the family’s dog before attacking the boy, when he tried to separate the two dogs.
The dog was described as a black Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dog with long legs. It didn’t have a collar and was not accompanied by its owner.
We are appealing for anyone who was in the area around the time and witnessed the attack, saw a dog matching this description in the area, or knows where the dog may have come from.
We understand that this incident will cause concerns within the community, but officers are in the area searching for the dog and speaking to as many people as possible to find out if they have any information, which could help us with our investigation.
If you have any information, please go to our website home page and select the ‘Live Chat’ button at the bottom right of the page. Here, between 7am-11pm, you will be able to provide information by speaking to one of our online operators to ensure your report is dealt with as quickly as possible.
Alternatively, you can make an online report here or call 101. Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously.
Please reference 42/194565/20 when providing any information to ensure it gets to the investigating officer as quickly as possible.
Alternatively you can call 101 or give information anonymously by contacting independent charity Crimestoppers.
ESSEX Police is appealing for witnesses following reports that a man had been assaulted while on Southend Road, Grays around 12am on Monday 30 November.
They have received reports of an altercation between a group of men, which resulted in a man sustaining life-threatening injuries.
A 26-year-old man from Grays has been arrested in connection. The road was temporarily closed while officers conducted their investigation.
We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area around this time and saw any suspicious or unusual behaviour.
We’re also keen to hear from anyone who has doorbell, CCTV, or dash cam footage which captured what happened.
If you have any information, please go to our website home page and select the ‘Live Chat’ button at the bottom right of the page. Here, between 7am-11pm, you will be able to provide information by speaking to one of our online operators to ensure your report is dealt with as quickly as possible.
Alternatively, you can submit an online report or call 101. Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously.
Please reference incident 49 of 30 November when providing any information to ensure it gets to the investigating officer as quickly as possible.
A 34-year old man from South Ockendon was arrested by the National Police in Alicante on Wednesday, in compliance with a European Arrest issued by UK authorities reports a Spanish newspaper.
Agents of Group II of Organized Crime of the Judicial Police of the Alicante Police Station were in possession of the warrant which requested international police cooperation in response to the individual who was fleeing justice from the Kingdom United.
Following preliminary investigations into his whereabouts, the agents located his address in San Fulgencio. In carrying out the arrest the National Police agents were assisted by the San Fulgencio Local Police.
Although the individual was not carrying and identification the agents were able to recognise him by one of his tattoos of which they had a photograph issued from UK.
The fugitive is charged with causing grievous bodily harm, making death threats and committing damages, events that occurred in 2019 in South Ockendon.
Fortunately the victim was able to escape thanks to the help of a neighbour.
The detainee was placed at the disposal of the Central Court of Instruction number Five of the National Court where he will remain while the European Detention Order is processed.
ESSEX Police is investigating following an incident in Aveley where a house was shot at.
It was reported a firearm was fired at an address in St Pauls Close at around 11.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 1 December).
No-one inside was hurt but damage was caused to a window.
Detectives have been carrying out house-to-house enquiries in the area and, at this stage, we believe it was a targeted incident with no risk to the wider public.
Officers remain in the area carrying out their enquiries and if you live in the area you might see a greater police presence than usual.
If you saw anything, have any CCTV, dash cam, or Ring doorbell footage we need you to contact us on 101 quoting the incident number 1208 of 1 December.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
AN illegal dog boarding business was shut down and its irresponsible operators forced to pay more than £3,000 each following action taken by Thurrock Council.
On Thursday 26 November, the council successfully prosecuted Jay Hayers, 30, and Susan York, 56, for operating an unlicensed home dog boarding business, known as Max’s Home Boarding, between Friday 11 January 2019 and Friday 5 July 2019.
The pair, who pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates Court, were each fined a total of £2,500, ordered to pay costs of £1,250 and a £170 victim surcharge.
Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council and Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour, said: “This case sends a strong message that we will not tolerate anyone who operates an animal boarding business without the appropriate licence to run one. Our residents want to know that their much loved pets are being properly cared for.
“Animal boarding businesses must be inspected and approved by us to ensure that pet owners can leave their dogs or cats in a safe environment.
“Thank you to those who worked with our licensing team for their support in securing this prosecution. Residents can go to thurrock.gov.uk/licensing for more information on animal welfare licensing, including boarding for cats or dogs, or to report an unlicensed business to us.”
Hayers and York’s address had been previously licensed for animal boarding but the pair had surrendered their licence in October 2018.
